What is Robotic Surgery?
Robotic surgery is actually robot-assisted surgery. The human surgeon is assisted precision equipment using robotic technology. The delicate instrumentation allows the surgery to be done with greater sophistication and increased range of motion through smaller incisions, reducing complications and recovery time. A wide variety of surgeries can be done using robotic technology, including general surgery procedures, thoracic surgery, urologic procedures, gynecological procedures and hepatobiliary (liver, gall bladder and bile ducts) procedures.
The state of the art in robotic surgery is the da Vinci Surgical Robot. It offers 3D HD vision, and its robotic arms allow a surgeon to rotate instruments 360 degrees through tiny incisions. The da Vinci can perform technically precise movements during minimally invasive surgeries. The surgeon controls the instruments from a console that is in the same room with the patient but a few feet away from the surgical instruments.
Compared to traditional open surgery, robotic surgery offers many benefits to patients. The smaller incisions reduce the risk of infection. There is less blood loss, minimal scarring and reduced pain and discomfort. The hospitalization time is shorter, and patients recover and return to normal activities faster.
Robotic surgery offers several advantages to surgeons as well as patients. They have better visibility enhanced by the robot. Dexterity is improved by the delicate instruments, and miniaturization allows the procedures to be performed with greater precision. The risk of error caused my natural human tremor is greatly reduced.
At Advanced Surgical and Weight Loss Institute in Merritt Island, Florida, Dr. Diego Velarde, M.D., FACS is a board certified general surgeon who uses the da Vinci Surgical Robot to perform general surgery. Although Dr. Velarde is a general surgeon, he specializes in bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve, gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (lap-band).
Attempting to lose weight can be challenging and emotional. If you have tried and failed repeatedly, and you would like to determine if you are a candidate for robotic bariatric surgery, contact us at Advanced Surgical and Weight Loss Institute, 375 Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island, FL. Dr. Velarde has over ten years of experience in bariatric surgery, and he is fluent in both Spanish and English.