Surgical Services
Robotic Surgery
Taking Surgery Beyond the Limits of the Human Hand
With the addition of the da Vinci Surgical System, surgeons at Bay Medical can now offer patients an even less invasive alternative to open surgery for many procedures.
What is the daVinci Surgical System?
The da Vinci Surgical System is a state-of-the-art robotic system used to perform a variety of minimally invasive procedures. During a robotic-assisted procedure, the surgeon sits at a master console, using hand and foot controls to direct the movements of robotic instrument arms. The console's viewing system and an instrument with a camera and light on the tip provide the surgeon with a highly magnified, three-dimensional view of the patient's internal structures.
What are the benefits of using the da Vinci over traditional methods of surgery?
Unlike traditional open procedures which require one, large incision, the da Vinci only requires a few tiny incisions. Patients experience less post-operative pain, less blood loss, less risk of infection and a faster recovery compared to open procedures. The da Vinci's visual system also allows surgeons to see ten times better and perform surgeries with pin-point precision. Unlike the human hand or laparoscopic instruments, the wrists of the robotic arms are able to rotate 360 degrees, providing increased dexterity and control.
Is the robot performing the surgery?
No, the da Vinci does not perform the procedure. A surgeon uses the robotic system to direct the movements of the robotic arms by using controls at the master console. In fact, the robot system has built-in safety features so that it automatically stops if the surgeon pulls his or her head away from the console or if the surgeon stops using the controls.
What procedures are performed at Bay Medical with the da Vinci?
Bay Medical offers radical prostatectomy (removal of the prostate), tubal ligation reversals (or reconstruction of tubes after being tied), removal of fibroid tumors from the uterus and hysterectomies. Bay Medical will soon expand its robotics program even further with less-invasive heart surgery.
Six surgeons at Bay Medical have been trained to use the da Vinci Surgical System:
- Warren Hitt, M.D., Urologist
- Michael Jenkins, M.D., Urologist
- Carlos Ramos, M.D., Urologist
- Justo Maqueira, M.D., OB/GYN
- Gregory Morrow, M.D., OB/GYN
- Reed Finney, M.D., Cardiothoracic Surgeon