As the first hospital in our region to introduce the daVinci Xi®, EJGH continues building on its reputation as a leader in minimally invasive surgery.

The Xi is the latest generation in robotic surgery systems. It affords surgeons multi-quadrant access for the first time in history. To the physician, the Xi affords greater lines of sight, greater mobility and greater possibilities than ever before. To the patient it means the world of minimally invasive surgery continues to improve and expand to more and more specialties treating more and more ailments. It means smaller incisions, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times and in some cases, remarkably improved outcomes.

From a remote station, 3 to 6 feet from the patient, the surgeon views the surgery through a viewer that gives him an enlarged, lighted, 3-D view of the surgery area. From that station, the surgeon manipulates robotic “hands” that perfectly mirror the natural motions of traditional surgery. Because only the robot’s “hands” ever touch the patient after the preliminary incision, there is much less bleeding and risk of infection. This benefits the patient directly by leading to shorter hospital stays and significantly faster recovery times.

The da Vinci Surgical System was developed by Intuitive Surgical Inc. of Sunnyvale California. It enhances surgical capabilities providing superior visualization, enhanced dexterity, greater precision and ergonomic comfort for the surgeon. As a result of these capabilities, surgeons can now perform even complex surgery using 1-2 cm incisions. This enables EJGH to offer a superior minimally invasive option to the broadest possible range of patients.

The da Vinci Surgical System integrates 3D HD endoscopy and state-of-the-art robotic technology to virtually extend the surgeon’s eyes and hands into the surgical field. Only the da Vinci System enables new, minimally invasive options for complex surgical procedures.

Today, da Vinci represents the gold standard in prostatectomy. Traditional prostate surgery calls for an incision running from the navel to the groin. The surgery is usually followed by several days of hospitalization and a recovery period that can take weeks. Robotic Prostatectomy allows for three incisions that are each less than an inch long. Patients are usually hospitalized a couple of days and recovery times are reduced by several days.

With the first cases performed in the Spring of 2015 the benefits to our patients were readily apparent. Already surgeons are raving about the enhanced options the Xi affords. One patient had an entirely new bladder created from their own small intestine. With this procedure, the patient resumes their entire quality of life rather than a lifetime of using a colostomy bag. However, the most remarkable aspect of this procedure was that the patient was walking and out of the hospital after a weekend stay. Cystectomies and hysterectomies are being performed with greater precision than ever before. Surgeons are praising the facts that the surgical tray moves with the surgery and there is less, or usually no need for “re-docking” the robot during surgery. One OB/GYN was thrilled that the video camera within the system is flexible. She can tilt the camera during surgery at a 30 degree angle giving her a “full view of the uterus.” These benefits to surgeons translate into greater benefits to patients.