Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

 

What is minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery?  Minimally invasive surgery is typically performed through small incisions, or operating ports, rather than large incisions, resulting in potentially shorter recovery times, fewer complications, reduced hospitalization costs and reduced trauma to the patient.

 

 

 

Why choose Dignity Health for robotic surgery?  When facing surgery, regardless of the condition, your primary concern is determining which surgeon and hospital will give you the best chance for the best possible outcome. Secondly, you want a surgical experience that will be the least disruptive to your everyday life. Dignity Health offers the most comprehensive robotic surgery program available in the greater Sacramento area. You can feel confident knowing our physicians have more experience doing more procedures, offering advanced surgical techniques that improve patient outcomes, reduce patient recovery time and decrease hospitalization time.

 

What robotic procedures does Dignity Health offer patients?  Dignity Health offers patients the latest in minimally invasive surgical approaches through the use of the da Vinci® surgical system and superDimension. The Sacramento area Dignity Health hospitals offer the broadest range of da Vinci assisted procedures available in northern California, treating a range of conditions including:
 

 

 

What are the benefits of da Vinci-assisted surgery offered by Dignity Health compared with traditional methods of surgery?  Some of the major benefits experienced by surgeons using the da Vinci® Surgical System over traditional approaches have been greater surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved dexterity, enhanced visualization and improved access.

 

Benefits experienced by patients may include a shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss, fewer transfusions, less scarring, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal daily activities.

 

 

 

 

Is robotic surgery more expensive and will my health insurance pay for the cost of a robotic surgery procedure?  In many cases, a robotic-assisted surgical procedure is less expensive due to shorter hospital stays and quicker patient recovery times; as well as less time away from work. Medical insurance typically provides coverage for indicated robotic-assisted surgical procedures just like any other covered service; however, you should check with your individual insurance provider for confirmation.

 

 

 

Why do we need a new way to do minimally invasive surgery?  Despite the widespread use of minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery in today's hospitals, adoption of laparoscopic techniques, for the most part, has been limited to a few routine procedures. This is due mostly to the limited capabilities of traditional laparoscopic technology, including standard video and rigid instruments, which surgeons must rely on to operate through small incisions.

 

In traditional open surgery, the physician makes a long incision and then widens it to access the anatomy. In traditional minimally invasive surgery - which is widely used for routine procedures - the surgeon operates using rigid, hand-operated instruments, which are passed through small incisions and views the anatomy on a standard video monitor. Neither this laparoscopic instrumentation nor the video monitor can provide the surgeon with the excellent visualization needed to perform complex surgery like coronary artery bypass, valve repair or nerve-sparing prostatectomy.

 

 

 

Am I a candidate for robotic-assisted surgery?  Most people are candidates for robotic surgery, but it may not be right for everyone. Only you and your doctor can decide whether surgery is right for you. Before making a decision, it is important to be aware of all treatment options, as well as your physician's experience as a da Vinci surgeon.