Tallahassee Memorial recently became the first hospital in the Big Bend and Southwest Georgia regions to acquire the da Vinci™ Surgical System, a state-of-art robotic surgery system that offers the benefits of a more precise surgery with reduced pain for the patient and a faster recovery.

The daVinci™ Surgical System is initially being used by urologists from Southeast Urological Center for radical prostatectomy, a common treatment for prostate cancer that involves removal of the prostate gland. Recent studies suggest that da Vinci™ Prostatetectomy may improve cancer control and reduce the risk of urinary incontinence and impotence following surgery.

It is also anticipated that soon cardiovascular-thoracic surgeons from the Heart Surgery Center, P.A. will also use the da Vinci™ Surgical System for mitral valve surgery.

The da Vinci™ Surgical System allows the surgeons hand movements to be scaled, filtered and translated into extremely precise movements within the operative site. The magnified 3-dimensional view and small robotic instruments enhance the surgeon’s ability to perform complex procedures through small incisions.

The da Vinci Surgical System consists of the following four components.

An ergonomically designed surgeon’s console where the surgeon sits to view the surgical field and guide the master controls located below the display..

• A patient-side cart with four interactive robotic arms that execute the surgeon’s commands.
• A full range of EndoWrist instruments designed with seven degrees of motion that mimic the dexterity of the human hand and wrist.
• The InSite Vision System with a high-resolution 3-D endoscope and image processing equipment that uses image synchronizers, high-intensity illuminators and camera control units that enhance the 3-D images of the operative field.

The da Vinci™ Surgical System has been successfully used in thousands of procedures worldwide. For more information or referral to a physician trained on da Vinci™ System, call Tallahassee Memorial at 850-431-1155.