Robotic Surgery Comes to Lankenau Hospital!

In March 2005, Lankenau became the first suburban Philadelphia hospital to offer the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical System. This advanced robotic-assisted technology allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures to treat a variety of medical conditions, with significant advantages over traditional "open" surgeries.

The da Vinci Surgical System provides the surgeon with enhanced capabilities including superior 3-D visualization, enhanced dexterity and range of motion, greater precision, and ergonomic comfort. As a result, surgeons can now perform even complex surgery using tiny 1-2 cm incisions. Patients benefit from this technology with less pain, discomfort and blood loss, shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to normal activities.

Lankenau Hospital is utilizing the da Vinci Surgical System to treat a variety of conditions including heart disease, prostate cancer, and gynecological cancer. Lankenau Hospital surgeons who are using the da Vinci to treat patients include:

• Max Ahn, M.D. (Urology)
• Mark Finnegan, M.D. (Obstetrics/Gynecology)
• Scott Goldman, M.D. (Cardiothoracic Surgery)
• David Holtz, M.D. (Gynecologic Oncology)
• Francis Sutter, D.O. (Cardiac Surgery)

How the da Vinci Works
The da Vinci® Surgical System consists of a surgeon's viewing and control console with an integrated, high-performance InSite® 3-D vision system, a patient-side cart consisting of three or four robotic arms that position and precisely maneuver endoscopic instruments and an endoscope, and a variety of articulating EndoWrist® Instruments.

During surgery, the surgeon sits at a console across the room from the patient, monitors the video screens and directs the robotic arms. The surgeon simply makes three or four tiny incisions measuring a mere 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter using the da Vinci instruments. The da Vinci system has up to four arms that are inserted into the patient through the incisions. One arm holds a miniature camera and the other arms hold instruments. Through these ports, the surgeon is able to navigate the robotic instrument arms and endoscopic arm during the procedure while sitting at a console several feet away from the operating table. A magnified 3-D system gives the surgeon an enhanced view of the surgical field.

The da Vinci seamlessly and directly translates the surgeon's natural hand, wrist and finger movements on instrument controls at the surgeon's console outside the patient's body into corresponding micro-movements of the instrument tips positioned inside the patient through small incisions. It maintains a corresponding eye-hand-instrument alignment, so that as a surgeon twists the controls in one direction, the instruments twist in the same direction, giving the surgeon natural hand-eye coordination. In standard laparoscopic surgery the movement of the instruments is 'counter-intuitive' similar to doing surgery while looking into a mirror.

• Watch Video of the da Vinci at Work!

Cardiac Applications

The da Vinci Surgical System is changing the practice of cardiac surgery as it's known today. Robotic-assisted minimally invasive cardiac procedures avoid the drawbacks of traditional heart surgery, including blood loss, pain and scarring that typically result from cutting through the breastbone and opening the ribs.

The da Vinci® System offers breakthrough capabilities that enable surgeons to operate through smaller incisions made between the ribs. Data suggests that recovery time, pain and trauma are reduced significantly through this less invasive approach.

The da Vinci Surgical System can be utilized to treat many heart conditions including: Atrial Septal Defect, Mitral Valve Disease and Coronary Artery Disease.

• View Video of Lankenau Heart Surgeon Dr. Francis Sutter Using the da Vinci Surgical System!

da Vinci Prostatectomy

Robotic-assisted visualization, dexterity, precision and control can enable a surgeon to perform a wide array of urologic procedures through small incisions, while achieving better clinical outcomes. In fact, the da Vinci Prostatectomy (dVP) performed with the da Vinci Surgical System is the fastest growing treatment for prostate cancer today.

For most patients, the da Vinci Prostatectomy offers substantially less pain and a much shorter recovery than traditional prostatectomy. Other advantages include reduced need for blood transfusions; less scarring and less risk of infection, and a lower incidence of impotence and urinary incontinence.

Gynecologic Applications

Today, a less invasive surgical treatment option is available. If your doctor recommends surgery for your condition, you may be a candidate for one of two new, minimally invasive procedures: da Vinci Hysterectomy and da Vinci Myomectomy (for uterine fibroids).

The da Vinci System's intuitive interface provides breakthrough capabilities, allowing more gynecologic surgeons to use a minimally invasive approach in complex procedures. The enhanced visualization, dexterity, precision and control offered by the da Vinci System can enable gynecologic surgeons to more easily perform complex procedures and potentially achieve better clinical outcomes than with conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Your Generosity Made the da Vinci Possible at Lankenau

With the generous support of philanthropic grants from the W. W. Smith Charitable Trust and the McLean Contributionship as well as many grateful patients, Lankenau Hospital invested $1.5 million in the da Vinci Surgical System in 2005 to continue advancing its minimally invasive capabilities. Your continued support will allow us to offer the da Vinci to more patients. Click Here to discover the many ways you can make a contribution to Lankenau Hospital.