Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery
at Saint Michael's Medical Center

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition that may require surgery, you owe it to yourself to learn about all of your medical options, including the most effective, least invasive surgical treatments available at Saint Michael's Medical Center.

The da Vinci® (S) Surgical System provides surgeons with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, putting a surgeon's hands at the controls of a state-of-the-art robotic platform. The da Vinci System enables surgeons at Saint Michael's to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision.

For the patient, benefits may include:

• Significantly less pain;
• Less blood loss;
• Less scarring;
• Shorter recovery time;
• A faster return to normal daily activities; and
• In many cases, better clinical outcomes.

Robotic Cardiothoracic Surgery

While surgery is generally the most effective way to treat disorders of the heart, traditional open-heart surgery has a number of inherent drawbacks caused primarily by making a large incision, splitting of the breastbone and spreading the ribs to access the thoracic space. In addition to an 8- to 10-inch scar down the center of the chest, splitting of the breastbone leads to a lengthy recovery time of eight to twelve weeks as well as a prolonged delay before a patient will return to normal daily activities.

The da Vinci Surgical System, providing surgeons and patients with what may be the most effective, least invasive treatment alternative for even the most complex cardiothoracic procedures, including direct coronary artery bypass surgery; robotic assisted laser revascularization; and transmyocardial revascularization (TMR). Among the benefits of da Vinci cardiothoracic surgery are a reduced risk of infection, less blood loss and need for blood transfusions, shorter hospital stay, less pain and scarring, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal activities.

For more information about robotic cardiothoracic surgery at Saint Michael's Medical Center, please call the office of Dr. Nilesh Patel, chief of Minimally Invasive Robotic Cardiac Surgery at the Heart and Vascular Institute, at (973) 877-5300. For physician offices to refer patients or schedule procedures, call (973) 877-2343.

Robotic Urology Surgery

Facing any kind of urologic surgery creates a great deal of anxiety for most men. Among these concerns is whether their body will function normally following surgery. Traditional open urologic surgery — in which large incisions are made to access the pelvic organs — has been the standard approach when surgery is warranted. Yet common drawbacks of this procedure include significant post-surgical pain, a lengthy recovery and an unpredictable, potentially long-term impact on continence and sexual function.

da Vinci Surgery, a minimally invasive approach that utilizes the latest in surgical and robotics technologies, is ideal for delicate urologic surgery. This includes prostatectomy, in which the target site is not only tightly confined but also surrounded by nerves affecting urinary control and sexual function, and partial and radical nephrectomy.

For more information about robotic urology surgery at Saint Michael's Medical Center, please call the office of Dr. Robert Caruso, director of Laparoscopic and Robotic-Assisted Urologic Surgery, at (973) 743-4450.

More Information about the da Vinci Robotic Surgery System
For Patients
For Physicians