Robotic Surgery
Robotic Surgery at UVM Health
Robotic surgery, sometimes called robot-assisted surgery, combines advanced technology with the experience and skill of expert surgeons.
Surgeons at University of Vermont Health use robotic surgery to perform familiar operations in new ways. Robotic surgery offers exceptional precision and control, leading to more accurate procedures that preserve healthy tissue, prevent blood loss and help you recover faster.
Robotic surgery is available at UVM Health locations in Vermont and northern New York, so access to these advanced techniques is within reach, no matter where you live.
Why Choose UVM Health?
As one of the leading robotic surgery programs in the region, we offer:
- Proven expertise: Our board-certified surgeons have special training and demonstrated experience using surgical robots. These specialists have completed a rigorous verification process by outside providers to confirm their skills.
- Advanced techniques: With robotic surgery, surgeons can perform surgical maneuvers that are not possible with human hands. The result is a more precise surgery and less pain.
- Leading-edge technology: Our robotic surgery suite features advanced equipment that gives your surgeon magnified 3D views of the surgical field. Surgeons control multiple interactive robotic arms from a console, providing increased access to the surgical area.
- Research focus: As part of a health system anchored by an academic medical center, our providers are active researchers, many of whom are training the next generation of experts.
Conditions We Treat
We use robotic surgery to treat many health conditions. Surgeons may recommend robot-assisted techniques if you have a complicated health condition that affects tissue deep within your body.
Your surgeon will determine whether robot-assisted techniques are right for your specific health needs. These techniques may be used for surgeries such as:
Our surgeons may use robotic surgery to perform bariatric surgery to help you lose weight.
Surgeons may use robotic-assisted techniques to treat:
- Bladder cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Gynecologic cancers, such as cervical cancer and uterine cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Lung cancer
- Prostate cancer
Surgeons use robotic surgery to treat conditions that affect the digestive tract, including the small intestine and large intestine (colon), and gastrointestinal cancers. We use robotic surgery to treat:
- Crohn's disease
- Diverticulitis
- Rectal prolapse
- Ulcerative colitis
Surgeons perform some types of gynecological surgery with robot-assisted techniques to treat conditions such as:
- Endometriosis, a condition in which uterine tissue grows outside the uterus
- Falling (prolapse) of muscles that hold pelvic organs in place
- Heavy uterine bleeding
We may treat certain conditions that affect the brain and spine with robotic neurosurgery.
We use robotic surgery to treat certain orthopedic conditions. Your surgeon may use robot-assisted techniques to perform:
- Joint repair, including knee replacement
- Spinal stenosis repair
Our experts use the leading-edge Mako SmartRobotics™ surgical system to perform minimally invasive joint surgery. With this advanced technology, your surgeon accesses a 3D CT scan to create a personalized, precise surgical plan for your unique needs.
TORS uses robotic technology to treat hard-to-reach cancerous and noncancerous tumors in the back of the throat. Because it is minimally invasive, TORS results in less pain and faster recovery. Some patients with cancer who receive TORS can avoid chemotherapy and radiation.
TAMIS is a transanal, minimally invasive technique using robotic surgery to treat rectal conditions, such as benign polyps or some cancerous tumors. Because it is minimally invasive, TAMIS results in less pain and faster recovery.
Surgeons perform robotic surgery to treat a range of urologic health conditions. We may use robotic techniques to perform reconstructive urology surgeries.
We may not recommend robotic surgery if you have:
- Changes to your abdominal structure due to previous surgery
- Large masses or tumors that are removable only through a large incision
- Scar tissue
Robotic Orthopedic Surgery
Robotic-assisted surgery offers exceptional precision and control, leading to more accurate procedures that preserve healthy tissue, prevent blood loss and help you recover faster.
What to Expect
We use robotic technology to perform surgery for a range of health conditions. Our robotic surgical suites include:
- Console: A computerized control center with a monitor that gives the surgeon a 3D view of the surgical area. The console also includes controls for a set of robotic arms with surgical instruments attached. The surgeon sits comfortably at the console while making precise movements with the robotic arms.
- Bedside cart: A cart that is positioned at your side during surgery. This cart includes the robotic arms and surgical instruments.
Robotic surgery offers many benefits. Surgeons only need to make small incisions to insert the robotic arms and they use tiny instruments to repair and remove tissue. With robotic surgery, you may have:
- Faster healing
- Less blood loss
- A shorter hospital stay
Your surgeon will explain the steps you must follow before robotic surgery. You may need to stop taking certain medications. Your surgeon will also tell you when to stop eating and drinking fluids before surgery.
As surgery begins, our experts customize the set-up of the surgical robot to your specific needs. An anesthesiologist will give you medication to make you fall asleep (general anesthesia).
During the operation, your surgeon will make small incisions and insert the robotic arms. They then sit at the computerized console to operate the robotic arms. Another surgeon stays at your side to provide real-time feedback and assistance to the surgeon operating the robotic arms.
After surgery, you move to a recovery area for observation. With certain types of surgery, you may be able to go home the next day. More complicated surgeries may require you to spend a few days in the hospital.
Your surgeon will tell you when you can return to your normal activities and will let you know what to expect as you recover.
Locations near you
111 Colchester Avenue
Main Campus, Main Pavilion, Level 5
Burlington, VT 05401-1473
214 Cornelia Street
Suite 102
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-2332
130 Fisher Road
Suite 3-1
Berlin, VT 05602-9000
