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On this week’s Medical Mondays video, learn how UPMC is pioneering robotic surgery, offering patients less invasive options for an array of conditions that occur in hard to reach areas of the body. Over the past five years, UPMC surgeons have performed more than 9,700 robotic surgical procedures across various clinical specialties. In fact, UPMC has one of the largest, most experienced centers for robotic-assisted surgery in the United States.
Here, you’ll also learn about:
- The history and benefits of robotic surgery
- New treatment options for head and neck cancer
- Traditional vs. robotic pancreatic surgery
For more information, visit our robotic surgery website.
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string(3424) "Robotic surgery is quickly becoming a common option for many types of surgery from hysterectomies and prostatectomies to heart surgery. A robot-assisted procedure uses tiny surgical instruments inserted through small incisions to perform precise movements. A surgeon controls these movements from a console. The technology gives people more treatment options for complex problems like surgery for head and neck cancer.
History of Robotic-assisted Surgery
Although this option has gained momentum in just the past decade, the idea has been around since the 1980s. Back then, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery was becoming popular.
Where once patients had to have one large incision to give the physician full access to the area being operated on, laparoscopic surgery uses small cuts to perform the same procedure. This leads to less scarring and fewer complications.
As robotic technology developed, medical professionals and researchers started to wonder how to combine robotics with laparoscopy. Early research involved trying to perform tele-surgery on wounded soldiers on the battlefield.
Performing surgery remotely still hasn't happened, but in 2000, Intuitive Surgical received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its da Vinci® Surgical System. This is the only FDA-approved tool for performing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery.
What Made the da Vinci System Unique?
Before the da Vinci, other robotic surgery used endoscopic cameras and a wide range of instruments. The system consolidated the instruments and used a high-definition 3D camera.
The physician sits near the patient and manipulates the instruments from a console. The surgeon is always in control of every movement the robot makes. Another key feature of the da Vinci system is the "endo wrist." This replicates the movement of a surgeon's hand, but with greater range of motion, increasing the accuracy of movements.
The system was first approved for use in general surgeries that were already being performed laparoscopically. Since then, its use has expanded to many types of surgery, including urology, gynecology, general surgery, thoracic surgery, and heart surgery.
Expansions to Robotic Surgery
More recently, a new type of robotic device was developed and approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. for transoral head and neck surgery. This new technology is called the Flex® Robotic System, and was developed jointly by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University. UPMC is the first hospital system in the U.S. to use the Flex robot, which offers the head and neck surgeon exceptional visibility and range of motion.
UPMC is among the most experienced centers for robotic surgery in the U. S. Over the past five years, UPMC surgeons have performed more than 9,700 robotic surgical procedures across various clinical specialties.
For more information on robotic-assisted surgery, visit the UPMC Robotic Surgery website.
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The idea of robotic surgery has been around since the 1980s. Read more about how robotic surgery has developed over the years and how it became an integral component of minimally invasive surgery.Read More
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string(2862) "Having any type of surgery is a little scary. You worry about scarring and how long it takes to recover.
Depending on your condition, your doctor may have talked to you about robotic surgery. It may sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but it's actually a major advance in surgical care.
What Is Robotic Surgery?
Also called robot-assisted surgery, this type of minimally invasive procedure uses tiny surgical instruments and a high-definition 3D camera. Rather than make a large cut to perform surgery, your doctor makes small cuts and inserts the camera and tools.
The surgeon then sits at a console near you where he or she controls the surgical instruments. With robotic surgery, the surgeon is able to do more precise movements. The surgeon has complete control over every movement the entire time.
The da Vinci® Surgical System is FDA approved for a range of surgical specialties, including cancer surgery. UPMC offers robotic surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System at 8 hospitals. A newer robotic device, the Flex® Robotic System, was recently approved for head and neck transoral surgery (TORS) and is utilized at UPMC Presbyterian. UPMC is the first institution to offer the Flex Robotic System.
Benefits of Robotic Surgery
The goal of robotic surgery is to provide less invasive surgery with greater precision and the potential for fewer complications and a faster recovery. Previously, many surgeries required large incisions so the surgeon had enough room to work. By using robotic technology and tiny instruments, the surgeon has a greater range of motion without the need to make large incisions.
One of the main benefits of robot-assisted surgery is you have much smaller cuts leaving you with:
- Less scarring
- Less pain
- Less blood loss during surgery
You're also more likely to have a faster recovery time, less time spent in the hospital, and fewer complications .
Robotic Surgery Risks
Like any surgery, robotic-assisted surgery has potential risks. There's always a chance that you will need open surgery (a large incision) to complete the procedure. Pain, infection, blood clots, and other risks are the same with robotic surgery as with any other type of surgery.
UPMC has highly skilled physicians with extensive training using the da Vinci Surgical System. We offer
robotic surgery for a range of specialties from bariatrics to cancer care to heart surgery.
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Some benefits of robotic surgery include smaller incisions, less scarring, and reduced pain than traditional open procedures. Learn more about how robotic-assisted surgery can benefit patients.Read More
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string(2433) "An active member of her church and grandmother of four, Birdie Dally is a busy lady. One day, Birdie was having problems breathing while singing at church. When the problems persisted, she decided to see her doctor.
Birdie’s primary care physician noticed a problem with her heart during routine testing and suggested she see a specialist.
In the fall of 2012, she was referred to Robin Girdhar, MD, at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.
Testing revealed a mitral valve prolapse. When the mitral valve prolapses and leaks, blood flows backwards into the heart and weakens it. Over time, this can lead to heart failure.
“When I was first diagnosed, I had no idea what it meant, but I knew that something needed to be done and I better not put it off,” she says.
In August 2013, Birdie underwent minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery for valve repair. “I didn’t go through a lot of anxiety or concern. The doctors were so caring and compassionate; I knew I was receiving top-notch care.”
Birdie returned home within a week of her surgery and was back to most normal activities within six weeks. She encourages others who might have mitral valve prolapse to not ignore their symptoms and see their doctor.
“Since my surgery, my life is pretty much back to normal. I’m able to sing better at church, take care of my house, and play basketball with my grandchildren.”
Read an extended version of Birdie's story, as well as other patient stories on the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute website.
Birdie’s treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases."
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When Birdie Dally was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, she turned to the experts at UPMC for treatment. Learn how a robotic-assisted procedure helped Birdie get back to leading a normal life.Read More
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string(4165) "Imagine a world where robots help perform surgery.
It may sound like something out of science fiction, but the truth is that robotic surgery is available for people with pancreatic cancer today. This innovative approach to pancreatic surgery provides many benefits for patients, including less pain and a faster recovery.
Traditional Whipple Surgery
For about 20 percent of patients with pancreatic cancer, doctors may recommend a procedure known as Whipple surgery. Also known as pancreatoduodenectomy, Whipple surgery removes the head, or right-hand portion, of the pancreas, where most tumors occur.
Because of the location of this organ, surgeons also remove:
- Parts of the small intestine
- Gallbladder
- Bile duct
- Sometimes, a portion of the stomach
Whipple surgery may help extend life, but it is invasive and involves a large incision in the abdomen. Traditional Whipple surgery is also quite complex and requires you to remain in the hospital for a week to 10 days afterward.
A Robotic Approach to Whipple Surgery
In just the last few years, a new option became available for people with pancreatic cancer: robotic Whipple surgery.
This minimally invasive procedure is similar to laparoscopic Whipple surgery but employs
robotic technology to improve accuracy. In this type of pancreatic surgery, your surgeon will:
- Make several small incisions in your abdomen
- Insert surgical instruments — including one that accommodates a miniature camera through them
A robotic device called the
da Vinci Surgical System helps guide the instruments, allowing them to move more nimbly and precisely than a human hand. The miniature camera broadcasts three-dimensional images onto a large high-definition screen. This gives your surgical team a unique view of your abdomen that can't be seen by just the naked eye.
Benefits of Robotic Whiple Surgery
The
advantages of robotic Whipple surgery for surgeons are clear. But how can this procedure help patients? Because robotic surgery is much less invasive than traditional surgery, it has a number of benefits. These include:
- Less pain: Robotic surgery involves smaller incisions than traditional surgery.
- Faster recovery and shorter hospital stays: People who undergo minimally invasive procedures such as robotic surgery typically leave the hospital in as early as five days and on average eight days, compared to 10 to 14 days with traditional Whipple surgery.
- Less scarring: Small incisions mean less chance for lasting scars.
If you're eligible for surgery, your doctor can help you weigh the risks and benefits of traditional versus robotic Whipple surgery for pancreatic cancer.
Preparing for your Whipple surgery? Learn about
what to expect after pancreatic surgery.
If you or a loved one have pancreatic cancer, you undoubtedly have questions. Learn more about advances in the field of oncology and cancer treatments. Visit the
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center online today.
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Traditional surgery to treat pancreatic cancer often requires a large incision in the abdomen, causing patients to remain in the hospital for a week to 10 days afterward. In just the last few years, a new option became available for people with pancreatic cancer: robotic Whipple surgery. Read more about the benefits of this procedure.Read More
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string(3721) "If you've been diagnosed with a type of head or neck cancer, you probably have a lot of questions about what to expect. A diagnosis of any type of cancer can be frightening, and these forms are no exception. Fortunately, there are several options for head and neck cancer treatment. Here's what you need to know to help you and your physician make an informed decision.
Types of Head and Neck Cancer
Treatment of head or neck cancer can depend on the type of the disease. There are several different types of these cancers, including:
- Salivary glands - These glands are located in the floor of the mouth near the jawbone.
- Oral cavity - Cancers can grow in or on the lips, tongue, gums, inner lining of the cheeks, and hard palate.
- Pharynx - Also known as the throat, this hollow tube is about five inches long. Cancer can affect any of its three main sections.
- Larynx - This passageway below the pharynx is also called the voice box. It includes the vocal cords and epiglottis, the small piece of tissue that prevents food from entering it.
- Nasal cavity and sinuses - These hollow spaces are located inside and around the nose, respectively.
Head and Neck Cancer Treatments
A number of other factors can influence the kind of head and neck cancer treatment your doctor recommends, such as the stage of the cancer (how advanced it is), how quickly it grows, where it is located, and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body. Depending on these factors and on your general health, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
- Surgery: Some people with head or neck cancer may have the tumor and cancerous tissue surgically removed. Your surgeon may also remove nearby lymph nodes to determine whether cancer has spread.
- Radiation: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to help kill cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy: This type of head and neck cancer treatment involves the use of drugs, either injected into the body or taken by mouth, to destroy cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy: Researchers continue to discover exciting new treatments for cancer, including head and neck cancer. One of these approaches, called immunotherapy, harnesses the power of a patient's immune system to fight cancer. In the case of head and neck cancers, physicians may use medications to target specific molecules that either block or stimulate certain immune responses. As a result, immunotherapy may help stimulate your own immune system to destroy cancer cells.
Your cancer care team will discuss your treatment options with you based on your disease. You should consult your doctor about what techniques and head and neck cancer treatment may be the best options for you.
To learn more about new cancer research and treatment methods, visit
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center online or
contact us today.
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If you are diagnosed with head and neck cancer, the stage of the cancer, how quickly it grows, where it is located, and whether or not it has spread to other parts of the body, can influence the type of treatment. Read more about new treatment approaches.Watch Now
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string(1116) "Have you checked your head and neck health recently? If you haven't, now is the time. With over 20,000 cases per year in the U.S., head and neck cancers are not something to be overlooked. These cancers start in the tissues and organs of the head and neck, which include your thyroid, larynx, throat, lips, mouth, and more. As the number of cases increase every year, education is increasingly essential in the fight against these cancers. Recognizing the signs and symptoms can allow you to catch the diseases early and help lead to a more successful treatment. Check out our infographic below, where James Ohr, DO of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center shares some of the risk factors, symptoms and treatments of head and neck cancer.
"
["post_title"]=>
string(34) "Infographic: Head and Neck Cancers"
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Check out our infographic to recognize the signs and symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options for head and neck cancer.View Infographic
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string(4600) "Using minimally invasive robotic surgery to treat urological conditions has rapidly grown as an option for many patients. Previously, most surgeries for urology were performed as open surgeries, which make large incisions. Robotic surgery reduces pain and recovery time for many patients.
What Are Urological Conditions and Diseases?
Urological conditions are those that affect the male reproductive organs or problems with the male or female urinary tract. This can include problems in the:
- Kidney
- Bladder
- Prostate
- Urethra
For certain cancers, kidney disorders, or urinary tract obstructions, surgery may be the only option to cure or find relief from symptoms.
What Is Robotic Surgery?
Robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery, is performed by a skilled surgeon using the da Vinci® Surgical System to assist with complex surgeries. Using the system, the surgeon makes small cuts and inserts tiny surgical instruments and a camera. The surgeon sits at a console with a 3-D screen and operates the instruments.
The surgeon is in control of the operation at all times. The da Vinci system helps perform sensitive operations like prostatectomy, where the surgeon has to work in a very small space while protecting the surrounding nerves.
Robotic surgery advantages and benefits
Advantages of robotic surgery include:
- Smaller incisions and less scarring
- Less blood loss
- Shorter hospital stay
- More precision and control by the surgeon
>> Learn more about the
benefits of robotic surgery.
Types of Robotic Urological Surgery
Robotic surgery is offered as an option for almost every major urological surgery done at UPMC. Some patients with larger tumors or previous surgery may not be good candidates.
Prostatectomy
A
radical prostatectomy is a common surgery to treat prostate cancer. The surgery uses small incisions in the belly to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissue. The bladder is carefully reattached to the urethra and the nerves for erections are spared.
A simple prostatectomy is used when the prostate is not cancerous but instead is very enlarged. The inner or blocking part of the prostate can be removed, opening the channel for urination.
Partial nephrectomy
This surgery is performed to treat kidney cancer. Also called
kidney-sparing surgery, this procedure removes the diseased part of the kidney only, while leaving the rest of the kidney intact. This leaves the patient with better kidney function and less chance of needing dialysis than had the whole organ been removed
Cystectomy
This procedure for bladder cancer can be done as a
partial or radical cystectomy. A partial cystectomy removes only the cancerous part of the bladder. More commonly, a radical cystectomy removes the bladder, nearby lymph nodes, part of the urethra, and any other nearby organs where the cancer has spread.
Pyeloplasty (urinary reconstruction surgery)
This procedure is used to
remove a urinary blockage between the kidney and the ureter tube, which drains toward the bladder. The surgeon removes the blockage and then reattaches the kidney to the healthy part of the ureter.
Robotic surgery risks
Robotic surgery has risks similar to any other surgery. All surgery carries risk of infection, bleeding, and other complications. With robotic surgery, there's a chance the surgeon may need to change to an open procedure, but this is uncommon.
UPMC surgeons receive extensive training on the da Vinci Surgical System and are prepared to handle any possible complications. Talk to your doctor about whether this type of surgery may be the best option for you.
For more information on robot-assisted surgery, visit the
UPMC Robotic Surgery website.
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string(296) "Surgery for urological conditions was once considered very invasive, meaning large incisions and lengthy hospital stays were required. Now, minimally invasive robotic surgery has rapidly grown as a treatment option, offering less pain and a faster recovery time than traditional open procedures. "
}
Surgery for urological conditions was once considered very invasive, meaning large incisions and lengthy hospital stays were required. Now, minimally invasive robotic surgery has rapidly grown as a treatment option, offering less pain and a faster recovery time than traditional open procedures.Read More
