The Center for Robotic Surgery at South Miami Hospital offers a revolutionary approach to minimally invasive surgery, capitalizing on the latest operating room advances to improve patient care. The da Vinci Robotic System makes complex operations more precise and less traumatic by using state-of-the-art technology to virtually extend the surgeon’s eyes and hands into the patient’s body.
The da Vinci system has been used successfully in tens of thousands of procedures worldwide, and hundreds of clinical publications have documented its safety and effectiveness.
Our team is one of the most experienced in the state in robotic surgery using the da Vinci system. Our specially trained, Board-certified surgeons use the robot to treat cancer and other conditions of the lungs, prostate, colon, uterus, cervix and kidneys. In da Vinci’s latest applications at our center, we offer robotic bariatric surgery and heart surgery to repair mitral valve prolapse.
Many of the benefits of robot-assisted surgery are similar to those of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery:
- Tiny, dime-size incisions.
- Less pain and blood loss.
- A shorter hospital stay.
- A quicker recovery.
- A lower risk of infection.
But, unlike laparoscopic surgery, which is typically limited to relatively simple procedures, robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci system can be used for more complex operations. That’s because the da Vinci robot offers additional enhancements that surgeons can use to benefit the patient, including:
- A better view through three-dimensional magnification.
Da Vinci’s high-definition stereoimaging camera captures depth perception unavailable to surgeons using standard laparoscopy. The camera also can magnify images to 10 times that which can be seen with the human eye.
- Enhanced dexterity and more precision.
The robotic arms, equipped with tiny instruments, can turn 360 degrees, rotating and bending as the surgeon dictates. This dexterity allows the instruments to navigate inside the body in ways that a human hand cannot. A special wrist joint at the tip of the surgical instruments enhances the ability to perform subtle, complex movements such as maneuvering around delicate areas while cutting. It also makes other actions easier, such as suturing, which mimics the technique used in traditional open surgery.
- The ability to neutralize hand tremors.
Any slight random hand movement when the surgeon is manipulating the robot’s arm is not translated to the instruments.
- Better control by the surgeon.
No assistant is needed for the camera; the surgeon has control over camera placement and manipulation throughout the case.
Introducing da Vinci: How Robotic Surgery Works
The da Vinci Robotic System is made up of three components: the surgeon’s console, a patient-side robotic cart with four arms controlled by the surgeon (one for the camera and three to manipulate instruments), and a high-definition 3D vision system.
To begin, the surgeon makes four to six dime-size incisions, known as operating ports, on the patient’s body. Small tubes called trocars, which are attached to the robot’s arms, are inserted through the ports to place instruments and the high-definition digital camera inside the patient’s body.
Sitting at the console a few feet away, the surgeon watches a screen with a magnified, three-dimensional view of the patient’s internal organs and tissue. The surgeon uses foot pedals and hand controls similar to joysticks to move the robot’s arms to cut tissue, remove tumors and tie sutures. The surgeon can make the narrow instruments twist, turn and rotate for an unprecedented range of motion and accuracy. The robot also has safeguards that protect the patient from abrupt or uncontrolled movements.
Our Team of Surgeons
Julio Arronte, M.D. – gynecologic surgery
Darren Bruck, M.D. – prostate/urologic surgery
Scott Dunkin, D.O. – gynecologic surgery
Mark Dylewski, M.D. – thoracic/chest surgery
Ricardo Estape, M.D. – gynecologic oncology surgery
Anthony Gonzalez, M.D. – bariatric surgery
Armando Hernandez-Rey, M.D. – gynecologic surgery
Eduardo Krajewski, M.D. – colorectal surgery
Nicholas Lambrou, M.D. – gynecologic oncology
Luis Mendez, M.D. – gynecologic oncology surgery
Rafael Perez, M.D. – gynecologic surgery
Avelino Piñon, M.D. – prostate/urologic surgery
Robert Puig, M.D. – prostate/urologic surgery
Jorge Rabaza, M.D. – bariatric surgery
Eric Runyon, M.D. – gynecologic surgery
Yekutiel Sandman, M.D. – prostate/urologic surgery
Lynn Seto, M.D. – heart surgery
Alberto Sirven, M.D. – gynecologic surgery
Marcos Szomstein, M.D. – colorectal surgery
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