da Vinci-Si Robotic Surgical System
Considering da Vinci robotics as a surgical option? The physicians at OU Medical Center Edmond are experienced specialists utilizing da Vinci technology in a variety of surgical procedures.
OU Medical Center Edmond boasts the most advanced daVinci “robot” system on the market today -- the daVinci Si HD. With four surgical arms, unparalleled 3D, high definition monitors, and precision instruments, the daVinci Si HD is designed to assist the physician in providing the highest quality of laproscopic surgery available. This results in quicker recovery, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and minimal scarring.
Surgical Options with da Vinci Robotics
At OU Medical Center Edmond, we pride ourselves in offering the latest surgical procedures utilizing the latest daVinci technology available. OU Medical Center Edmond is the first and only hospital in the state and among the first in the country to offer “scarless” gall bladder removal utilizing the da Vinci surgical system.
Gall Bladder Removal
Removal of the gallbladder is a common procedure for patients suffering from abdominal pain caused by chronic gallstones or an inflamed gallbladder. While traditional laparoscopic surgeries require multiple incisions to remove the gallbladder, the da Vinci surgical system allows your surgeon to make one small incision through the belly button to remove the gallbladder. This results in a relatively “scarless” surgery for patients since the surgeon is utilizing a natural “scar” in the body to make the incision, therefore resulting in a minimal to no visible scar.
Patients undergoing this procedure usually go home the same day as their surgery and are back to their normal activities within a few days.
Nissen Fundoplication for GERD
GERD, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, is chronic or severe acid reflux that can be very painful and, in some cases, lead to esophageal cancer. Patients undergoing Nissen fundoplication surgery often cannot control their GERD through traditional medications or have conditions such as a hiatal hernia (stomach bulges into the diaphragm); Barrett’s esophagus (cells in the esophagus have changed); or severe inflammation in the esophagus.
OU Medical Center Edmond’s daVinci surgeons perform Nissen fundoplications utilizing minimally invasive incisions in your abdomen. During the surgery, your surgeon will use the daVinci robot to wrap the uppermost portion of your stomach around your esophagus and sew it into place. This helps the valve between the stomach and the esophagus stop acid from getting into the esophagus, which is the cause of acid reflux. Most patients will spend at least one night in the hospital and will return to normal activities within a week or two of surgery.
Hernia Repair
Hernia repair surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States: OU Medical Center Edmond’s daVinci surgeons use the surgical system to provide minimally invasive hernia repair.
With the da Vinci surgical system, several small incisions are made in the abdomen. Your surgeon then manipulates the robot’s “arms” to repair the hernia and strengthen the muscle wall. The surgeon controls the robot through precise hand movements, 3D/HD visualization as well as intuitive motion to minimize scarring. Recovery times are variable by the patient as well as the type and size of the hernia treated, but are often improved over traditional surgical methods.
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is a common procedure that removes a patient’s uterus for a variety of reasons, including chronic pelvic pain, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, abnormal or extremely heavy vaginal bleeding, uterus thickening, vaginal prolapse, and, in some cases, early uterine cancer.
Traditionally, a hysterectomy was performed via open abdominal surgery that requires a long incision from the pubic bone to just above the navel. This generally results in long recovery times, a greater risk of infection, and a greater dependence on medications post-surgery.
daVinci assisted hysterectomy utilizes a high definition console as well as tiny, precise surgical instruments that allow your physician to perform the surgery with a few small incisions. The physician controls and guides the robot to remove the uterus. This results in a shorter recovery time, less pain, and less bleeding or risk of infection.
Uterine Fibroids (Myomectomy)
A uterine fibroid is a common type of benign (non-cancerous) tumor that can grow within the uterine wall, either inside or outside the uterus. Uterine fibroids are most common in women ages 30 to 40, but can occur at any age. An estimated 20 to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by age 50. These fibroids are the most common reason a hysterectomy is performed.
Uterine fibroids may grow as a single tumor or in clusters. They often increase in size and frequency with age, but may shrink after menopause. Not all women experience symptoms due to fibroids. When symptoms are present they may include: excessive menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, frequent urination and difficulty getting pregnant.
Myomectomy is a common alternative to hysterectomy for treating fibroids. Myomectomy is the surgical removal of fibroid tumors while leaving the uterus in place. Myomectomy is often recommended and considered the standard of care for women who want to become pregnant or keep their uterus for other reasons.
Myomectomy is often performed using traditional open surgery, meaning a large incision is made in the lower abdomen. After removing each fibroid, the surgeon repairs the uterus to minimize potential bleeding, infection, and scarring. Proper repair of the uterus is critical to reducing the risk of uterine rupture (tearing) during pregnancy.
Uterine fibroid embolization is a newer, non-invasive treatment in which blood vessels to the uterus are blocked. This stops the blood flow that allows fibroids to grow. Possible side effects include bleeding, infection, and difficulty getting pregnant.
Laparoscopic myomectomy is another minimally invasive alternative to open surgery but is usually not an option for women with large, multiple, or difficult-to-reach fibroids.
Utilizing the daVinci Surgical systemfor myomectomy procedures allows the physician to target a multitude of different fibroid types, including those that are difficult to reach, large, or with patients that have numerous fibroids. Most patients experience less pain, less scarring, less pain, and a shorter hospital stay.
Vaginal/Uterine Prolapse (Sacrocolpopexy)
Vaginal prolapsed occurs when the network of muscles, ligaments and skin that hold the vagina in its correct anatomical position weaken. This causes the vagina to prolapsed (slip or fall) from its normal position.
Uterine prolapsed occurs when the pelvic floor muscles and ligaments stretch and weaken, reducing support for the uterus. The uterus then slips or falls into the vaginal canal.
Prolapse can cause the following symptoms: a feeling of heaviness or pulling in your pelvis, tissue protruding from your vagina, painful intercourse, pelvic pain and difficulties with urination and bowel movements.
About 200,000 women have prolapsed surgery each year in the United States. Risk factors for prolapse include multiple vaginal deliveries, age, obesity, hysterectomy, collagen quality, and smoking. One in nine women who undergo hysterectomy will experience vaginal prolapsed and 10 percent of these women may need surgical repair of a major vaginal prolapse.
Checking in for your surgery
Once your physician and you determine that da Vinci surgery is right for you, a surgery date will be scheduled for you at our facility located at 1 S. Bryant in Edmond.
Prior to your scheduled surgery date, our admitting nurse coordinator will contact you via telephone to go over your surgery, get critical information from you, and give you instructions in preparation for the procedure. Admitting procedures vary by the type of surgery performed, but may include: additional laboratory or diagnostic imaging tests or fasting prior to surgery.
On the day of your surgery, you will be asked to arrive a few hours earlier than your scheduled surgery time so that we can admit you to the facility and begin preparing you for surgery. The pre-admitting nurse will give you both your surgery time and your arrival time. It is extremely important to adhere to the arrival time. Not doing so may delay your surgery start time.
Please arrive at our Admissions area in the Ambulatory Care Pavilion to check in prior to surgery. You will need your health insurance or Medicaid information cards, a list of any prescriptions that you normally take, and any changes of clothing you would like, including pajamas in case you need to be admitted overnight.
Discharge
In most cases, you will be discharged on the same day of your surgery. However, there may be some patients that require an overnight stay. Your physician will assess your condition after your surgery and will determine the best plan of care for you.
Prior to discharge, both your physician and a nurse will go over any discharge instructions, information, and medications with you. Please do not hesitate to ask for any information to be repeated if you are unclear about any part of the instructions.
Your physician will have his office staff schedule any post surgery examinations needed. The number of examinations as well as when you will need to see your physician will vary by the surgery and the patient.