Long Beach Memorial is leading the way in advancing minimally invasive surgery with robotic-assisted surgery. With two da Vinci Si Surgical Systems, Long Beach Memorial is expanding its program and providing more surgical choices for patients.
The specialized robotic surgeons offer a variety of procedures for a wide range of conditions: gynecology, cardiac, urology, general surgery and surgical oncology.
“Each one of our surgeons is skilled in robotic-assisted surgery,” says Leslie Edrich, M.D., medical director, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, Long Beach Memorial. “They are completely credentialed through a rigorous training process.” The latest advances in robotic surgical technology allow surgeons to operate with more precision. Controlled by the surgeon, and assisted by a highly trained surgical team, each movement of the surgeon’s hands is translated into precise, real-time movements by the robot. Exact precision is possible because of the robot’s “wrists,” which provide surgeons with natural dexterity and a range of motion far greater than even the human hand. Surgeons are able to perform smaller incisions to reach often hard-to-access areas of the body.
Additionally, the robot’s viewing system produces high-definition, 3-D images, allowing the surgeon to see inside the patient in unprecedented detail. “The robot represents a significant advance over laparoscopy, a minimally invasive technique that uses rigid instruments and 2-D imaging,” says Dr. Edrich.
For patients, the benefits of robotic surgery are numerous, including the elimination of a large incision. The precise movements result in smaller incisions, which means less scarring, less pain, shorter hospital stays and a quicker recovery compared to traditional surgery. This technology compliments Long Beach Memorial’s goal of extending minimally invasive surgery to meet the needs of patients. It can be used for a multitude of procedures, including, but not limited to: prostatectomy, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, coronary artery bypass, mitral valve repair and colorectal surgery.
What type of surgery is right for you – traditional, laparoscopic or robotic – depends on a patient’s particular condition, general health and physician recommendation. For a referral to a Long Beach Memorial physician using robotic-assisted surgery, call 800-MEMORIAL.