Upcoming Events
Many patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery at Montefiore Nyack Hospital now have the option of being treated with robotic surgery. “We are using the da Vinci Surgical System, which uses robotic arms and instruments that have a wider range of motion than humans do,” said Lee Fleischer, M.D., F.A.C.S., Director of Surgical Services at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “Because of this, the surgery is even less invasive than regular laparoscopic surgery resulting in less pain for the patient and a shorter time for recuperation.”
The da Vinci system helps surgeons perform a variety of procedures including general surgery, colorectal, thoracic and cardiac surgeries. It has four robotic arms instead of a surgeon’s two arms. “Regular laparoscopic surgery uses instruments that are long, thin and straight, and don’t articulate,” Dr. Fleischer said. “The da Vinci robotic surgery system has multiple joints and it can maneuver better than your hand wrist and fingers. Now I can produce finer movements with more accuracy. The system gives me a three-dimensional view which is magnified 10 times which also is a great benefit.”
How it Works
The da Vinci machine is made up of three different parts:
- The console/control center. The surgeon operates while seated at an ergonomic console unit, using hand and foot controls and with a magnified, 3D, high-definition view.
- The patient cart. The cart holds surgical instruments and the camera.
- The vision cart. This cart has a video screen so that the healthcare providers in the room can see what’s happening during the surgery.
The surgery is minimally invasive, meaning the surgeon makes small cuts, uses thin long surgical instruments and a laparoscope (a telescope) which is a thin tube with a light and a camera lens. The robotic surgical instruments are inserted through the cuts. Sitting at the console, the surgeon uses the controls to perform the surgery.
Robotic Surgery for Joint Replacement
The da Vinci system joins the ROSA surgical system, which is already in use at Montefiore Nyack for joint replacement surgery. “We have been using ROSA routinely for our knee replacements for more than a year, says Dr. Jordan Simon, Director of The Joint Replacement Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. “Patients are more comfortable and have been recovering more quickly as a result.” The ROSA robotic system uses a camera and optical trackers attached to the leg to know exactly where the patient’s knee is in space—like a GPS. Throughout the surgery, the robot provides data about the knee. This information helps the surgeon ensure the knee implant is properly positioned for the patient’s body. ROSA also provides feedback on the status of the patient's knee ligaments to aid the surgeon in balancing the soft tissues. The result is a better range of motion in the knee and a quicker recovery.
“Robotic surgery is the future of surgery,” Dr. Fleischer said. “If you are discussing any type of surgery with your doctor, let them know that Montefiore Nyack Hospital is performing robotic surgery. We are ready to talk about whether it is right for you.”
To schedule a consultation, call Highland Surgical Associates at 845-535-3362 or The Joint Replacement Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital at 845-348-7489.
For more information about robotic-assisted surgery, visit Highland Surgical Associates (highlandmedicalpc.com and montefiorenyack.org/joint-replacement.
