Robotic surgery at St. Elizabeth Healthcare is nothing new. But the da Vinci 5 Surgical System is. It holds the promise of improving surgical outcomes for people undergoing a variety of surgical procedures.
Shorter surgery time and less anesthesia. Reduced pain and better cosmetic results. Decreased risk of complications and a quicker recovery.
When you’re having surgery, you’d be happy with any of these results. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want all of them?
The new da Vinci robot at St. Elizabeth is designed to deliver. It’s part of our commitment to provide the best available surgical care to people in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana.
“The da Vinci 5 Surgical System is the most advanced da Vinci surgical robot on the market today,” says M. Ryan Moon, MD, FACS, a General Surgeon at St. Elizabeth. “It’s much like earlier da Vinci models. It allows us to perform minimally invasive surgeries through tiny incisions with extreme precision. However, da Vinci 5 has several design enhancements that may help improve surgical outcomes.”
The Latest-Generation da Vinci Robot
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first da Vinci surgical robot 25 years ago. The agency approved da Vinci 5 in 2024.
Robots do not operate independently. Surgery is robot-assisted, with the surgeon always in charge. The surgical team places the robot near your bed. Then, the surgeon positions robotic arms into tiny incisions on your body.
One arm contains a camera that allows the surgeon to see your internal anatomy. The other arms contain special instruments. The surgeon controls them from a console a short distance away.
Compared to earlier da Vinci models, the new system offers many advantages:
- Da Vinci 5 has 10,000 times the computing power. This makes complex data analysis possible. It will help you get the best care.
- Improved design features make the system more comfortable for surgeons to use. Better surgeon comfort may enhance their performance.
- Surgeons can set the robot up at your bedside more quickly than in the past. They can also change the instruments on the robot’s arms and use them to do certain tasks more efficiently. “When we can complete surgery in less time, patients get less anesthesia,” says Dr. Moon. “This lowers the risk of complications and shortens recovery times.”
- System enhancements provide improved dexterity and surgical movements. Complex operations once required a large incision (open procedures). Now, they are possible with a minimally invasive approach. These approaches are easier on you and less painful than traditional surgery.
- The camera provides a more detailed picture of the surgical field. “It offers surgeons clearer 3-D images with better resolution, color and depth perception,” says Dr. Moon. Greater detail may make it easier for surgeons to make decisions and do certain maneuvers.
Force Feedback Technology
Force Feedback technology is yet another potential benefit of da Vinci 5 our patients will soon see.
“Force Feedback technology allows surgeons to sense the force exerted by the robotic instruments during surgery,” says Dr. Moon. “When we push or pull tissues inside the body with the robot, we can essentially feel resistance or tension in our hands via the controls on the console. Normally, you’d only get that sensation performing traditional surgery.”
The technology results in surgeons using less force — up to 43% less according to Intuitive Surgical, maker of the da Vinci surgical system. Ultimately, this can make surgery even gentler and less invasive.
Am I a Candidate for da Vinci Surgery?
Currently, St. Elizabeth uses the da Vinci 5 system for urology, gynecology, weight loss and general surgery procedures. There’s potential to use it for a variety of other operations in the future.
“It will be especially helpful for more complex surgical cases,” says Dr. Moon. “The system offers enhanced control and improved precision. This makes the most challenging and delicate procedures easier.”
Factors such as your body size and surgical history help determine if robotic surgery is right for you. If, for example, you’ve had previous surgery in the same area of your body, it may not be. Your safety is the top priority.
Surgeons who perform da Vinci procedures receive extensive training. And the system itself has the potential to offer insights that surgeons can use to improve their technique.
To learn more, visit our General Surgery page.
