Robotically-assisted surgery is a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical approach used in place of traditional surgery for cancer treatment. This method is available for patients with prostate, gynecologic or head and neck cancers.

What is Robotically-Assisted Surgery?
With robotic surgery, a surgical oncologist uses the da Vinci computer platform to control the robotic arms of a surgical machine. Every move of the machine is a move made by your surgeon, aided by miniaturized wristed instruments maneuvering in ways the human hand cannot. With a 3D, high-definition camera, your surgeon views a magnified image of the location of the tumor. The robotic arm translates every move of your surgeon’s arm with unparalleled precision, pairing a state-of-the-art robotic surgical machine with the best surgical oncology know-how.

What are the benefits of Robotically-Assisted Surgery?
There are many advantages for the patient to robotically-assisted surgery, including:
 

• Minimal blood loss
• Small incisions
• Less pain
• Minimal or no scarring
• Shorter hospital stay
• Shorter recovery
• Reduced risk of trauma to surrounding tissue
• Better results in removing tumors without leaving cancerous cells behind

In addition, the delicate touch of the machine creates less disruption to other organs and tissues near the site of the surgery. The machine is highly maneuverable and gives the doctor images in high-definition. The robotic arms are microscopic, reducing the risk of causing trauma to the tissue or breaking sutures by pulling too hard.

Surgeons have greater surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved dexterity, enhanced visualization and improved access when working with the da Vinci system, creating a better surgical experience.

Robotically-assisted Adrenalectomy
An adrenalectomy is the removal of the adrenal glands, or the endocrine glands above each kidney responsible for the secretion of hormones. This surgical procedure was traditionally performed with an open incision but can now be done as a laparoscopic technique utilizing robotic technology. When this procedure is performed robotically, physicians have increased dexterity and maneuverability coupled with a 3D image of the area. In addition, the patient’s incision is small compared to the traditional surgical method of this procedure.

Patients with longstanding, severe hypertension (high blood pressure) may benefit from a robotically assisted adrenalectomy. This procedure can be a surgical cure for hypertension in younger patients (< 40 years) who have no family history of hypertension, a short duration of hypertension, and who were taking two or fewer antihypertensives prior to surgery. Additionally, tumors (malignant or benign) and severe hormone imbalances may also require an adrenalectomy.

Robotically-assisted Prostatectomy
Patients in need of a prostatectomy can benefit greatly from having the procedure performed with robotic assistance. UAB’s experienced surgeons are able to remove more, if not all, cancer cells, while leaving healthy tissue intact. Other benefits of robotically-assisted prostatectomies include improved and early return of sexual function and continence. When compared to more traditional radiation therapy, a robotically-assisted prostatectomy has a longer survival rate and lower risk of long-term complications.

Robotically-assisted Surgery for Gynecologic Cancers
Women with certain types of gynecologic cancers, including cervical cancer, as well as women in need of hysterectomies because of other types of cancers, could be candidates for robotically-assisted surgery. This type of minimally-invasive surgery provides surgeons unparalleled views of the delicate areas around a woman’s reproductive tract, including the bladder. Robotically-assisted hysterectomies afford patients less pain and shorter recovery time when compared to traditional hysterectomies, and provide doctors with unmatched precision.

Robotically-assisted Surgery for Head and Neck Cancers
UAB head and neck oncologic surgeon William R. Carroll, MD, was the first in the South to use the da Vinci surgical robot to treat pharyngeal and tongue-base tumors. This type of robotically-assisted surgery allows doctors to spare patients the ear-to-ear incisions that often require splitting the lip and jaw to gain access to the tumor. In addition, robotically-assisted surgery allows for complete tumor removal while helping preserve healthy tissue and voice and swallowing function.