Robotic Surgery
The Latest Tools & Technology to Perform Advanced Surgery
What Is Robotic Surgery?
Computer-assisted, detail-oriented robot-assisted surgeries have a human touch from our surgeons at RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group. This minimally invasive technique provides the surgeon with a magnified, 3-dimension view of the area where the surgical instruments and tools operate. This helps your surgeon have exactingly precise movements and control complex, intricate procedures, even in very tiny spaces. Robotic surgery is often used for gynecologic and urologic surgeries, too. You will learn the many advantages of taking a robotic approach over a traditional open route or a laparoscopic technique.
Robotic surgery offers these advantages over other surgical methods:
- Shorter hospital stays
- Fewer associated risks
- Quicker healing because of tiny incisions
- Minimal scarring from incisions
- Greater range of motion and precision
- Less bleeding
- Reduced discomfort and post-op pain
Is Robotic Surgery Right for Me?
Being told you need to have surgery may feel confusing and scary, especially if you worry about the odds of success and any pain you’ll have to endure, not to mention time spent healing and unable to work. The good news is surgical technology can give you a very different surgical experience. Robotic surgery works with a highly advanced computer-assisted surgical system that uses specialized robotic arms to hold operative instruments and a camera that magnifies the operation site. Your surgeon manipulates the miniature instruments and high-definition 3-D camera to perform the operation, much in the way a gamer would use a remote control to play a video game, and the machine translates your movement in real-time, precise movements.
Certain conditions can be successfully treated with robotic-assisted surgery, including:
- Colon and rectum surgery
- General surgery
- Gynecologic surgery
- Heart surgery
- Urologic surgery
- Head and neck surgery
- Thoracic surgery
- And more
You may need robotic surgery if the site where the doctor would operate is very, very small. Only properly trained doctors can use the robotic surgical system. Our surgeons have been extensively educated and the entire robotic surgical team, so patients have the best experience.
Preparing for Robotic Surgery
Before the day of your surgery, there is plenty of prep, so you are fully aware of what to expect in advance. Before meeting with the robotic surgeon, you’ll gather information about the condition that led you to their care. Once you have been referred to us for robotic surgery, we’ll teach you about on the pros and cons of your specific robotic-assisted surgery, and you’ll learn why it’s the best choice. Despite what the name may lead you to believe, there’s a human touch to robotic surgery, and you’ll have to follow your surgeon’s pre- and post-op instructions about what and when to eat, the medications you must take, and what other necessary steps there might be.
Specific procedures carry particular risks that others don’t, and it’s important to be up-front with your doctor about all your prescribed, over-the-counter, and supplemental medications and herbs you take. This is because your honesty could make the difference between clotting time from any bleeding during surgery. You should also arrange to have someone help to drive you back home and help you with daily activities until you are fully recovered.
Make an appointment with our robotic surgical team by visiting our Physician Locator to find a provider and either make an appointment online or call the office directly or visit healthconnect.rwjbh.org/hcweb to book a visit at RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group.