Featured Events

The Advantages of Robotic Surgery:

• Precision and Accuracy: The robotic system can perform movements with exceptional precision, even microscopic, which is particularly useful for complex or delicate surgeries.
• Minimally Invasive: Robotic surgery is typically performed through small incisions, which reduces trauma to the body (less pain and discomfort), leads to less bleeding, and often shortens recovery times.
• Enhanced Vision: Surgeons can access a high-definition, magnified, 3D view of the surgical area, improving their ability to navigate complex anatomy.
• Shorter hospital stays.
• Lower risk of complications.
• Faster Recovery: Patients may experience less pain, fewer complications, and quicker recovery times due to smaller incisions and reduced tissue trauma.
• Reduced Fatigue for Surgeons: Robotic systems can handle delicate tasks with more endurance than human hands, allowing surgeons to focus on decision-making and complex aspects of the surgery.
• Cost effective.

Applications of Robotic Surgery:

Robotic surgery can be used for a wide range of medical procedures, including:

• Urological Surgery: Prostatectomy, kidney surgery, bladder surgery.
• Gynecological Surgery: Hysterectomy, fibroid removal, ovarian surgery.
• Cardiac Surgery: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), heart valve repair.
• General Surgery: Hernia repairs, colorectal procedures, and weight loss surgery.
• Orthopedic Surgery: Joint replacement and spine surgeries.
• Thoracic Surgery: Lung and esophageal surgeries.

Limitations and Considerations:

• Cost: Robotic surgery systems are expensive to purchase and maintain, which can lead to higher overall healthcare costs.
• Surgeon Training: Surgeons need specialized training to use robotic systems effectively, and not all medical centers may have the necessary expertise or equipment.
• Not Fully Autonomous: The robot still requires a surgeon to control it. It can assist with precision and movement, but the decision-making process remains in the surgeon’s hands.
• Accessibility: Although robotic surgery is becoming more widespread, it is not available at all medical facilities, particularly in resource-limited settings.

In summary, robotic surgery is a cutting-edge field that enhances the capabilities of traditional surgery through precision, minimally invasive techniques, and improved visualization, all of which benefit both the surgeon and the patient.

Robotic Procedures Have Increased Significantly in Southwest Florida.

The dramatic growth in robotic surgery in Southwest Florida, at Lee Health and NCH, has resulted in many additional benefits. Fewer patients feel the need to travel to northern U.S. hospitals than they did before. This is largely because an increasing number of highly qualified surgeons are taking up posts in our local hospitals and developing their teams in hospitals that can fund the latest and best equipment available.

On November 20, I had the opportunity to meet with Joseph Klink, M.D., Medical Director of Systems Robotics at Lee Health, together with several colleagues, including Dr. Juan Ibarra, Program Manager of Robotic Surgery for Lee Health.

They explained to a small group of interested individuals how Lee Health had been expanding its Robotic Program. The talk also included several recordings of specific robotic procedures that have recently been performed.

In the last two years, Lee Health has more than tripled the number of Da Vinci robots. It also added a specialty neurosurgery robot and recently added two robots for orthopedic procedures. These are Zimmer Biomet’s ROSA® Hip and Knee System at Cape Coral Hospital and Lee Memorial Hospital.

It is a robotically assisted surgical system designed to help perform total knee and hip replacement surgery. The ROSA robot system enables surgeons to use computer and software technology to control and move surgical instruments, allowing for greater precision and flexibility during procedures. In addition, the ExcelsiusGPS®, is a first-of-its-kind robotic surgery in Southwest Florida for minimally invasive spine and brain procedures.

Recently, Lee Health also acquired the latest robotic system called the Da Vinci 5, which Intuitive Surgical identifies as the “most advanced and integrated robotic system ever.” Its key features allow AI to interact with the data to provide more detailed information to the surgeon. The monitor can be raised and adjusted to allow a more upright position to control the equipment, easing the strain on the surgeon’s neck and back. This new system also allows the surgeon to “feel” how the instruments are being handled – which was not the case in prior systems.

During the meeting, Joseph Klink, a senior urological surgeon, pointed out the significant advances that have been made in prostate surgery. The TULSA-Pro (A Transurethral Ultrasound Ablation of the Prostate) is a real-time robotics procedure with AI that does not use needles, is incision-free, can be used on any region of the prostate, and is a “closed-loop” temperature system with millimeter precision.

It is worth knowing what has transpired since 2020:   2020                            2024
The number of robotic Systems at Lee Health.              3                                  29
The estimated robotic procedures conducted.           746                              5,000
Since 2012, the number of robotic procedures conducted has been 15,210.
Almost 33% of those will have taken place in 2024.

Conclusions

Although robotic surgery takes slightly longer, the benefits to patient outcomes are highly significant compared with open-surgical procedures.

But it is not an inexpensive undertaking!  There is a high initial investment. Robotic surgery systems are expensive, both in terms of acquisition and maintenance. This makes it a significant upfront cost for hospitals and healthcare institutions.

However, there are potential long-term cost savings. Robotic surgery can reduce the length of hospital stays, minimize the need for follow-up treatments, and lower the chances of surgical complications.

Robotic surgery is no longer confined to just one or two types of procedures. It has expanded into multiple fields, including urology, gynecology, orthopedic surgery, and even neurosurgery, and is now available with experienced teams of surgeons on our doorstep!

Continued improvements in robotic systems, such as more advanced artificial intelligence (AI) integration, more intuitive user interfaces, and better miniaturization, promise to enhance their capabilities and expand their usage even more.