The University of Vermont Medical Center offers robotic-assisted surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System.

Robotic-assisted surgery in areas such as gynecological, urological, thoracic, colorectal, ENT and bariatric specialties can lead to better overall surgical outcomes for patients and reduce blood loss, complications, scarring and length of stay in the hospital. And having this available right here in Vermont eliminates the need for patients to travel considerable distances for minimally invasive surgical care.

As an academic medical center, we offer the region’s most comprehensive, patient-centered care delivering state-of-the-art treatment in supportive environment.

Exceptionally Effective, Minimally Invasive Surgery

For most patients, robotic-assisted surgery offers numerous potential benefits over traditional, open surgery, including:

  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Significantly less pain
  • Faster recovery
  • Less blood loss and fewer transfusions
  • Less scarring
  • Quicker return to normal daily activities
  • And in many cases, better clinical outcomes

What is Robotic-Assisted Surgery?

Quickly becoming the standard of care for certain procedures, robotic surgery combines advanced robotic and computer technology. This allows a surgeon seated at a console a few feet from the patient to control robotic surgical instruments while viewing a three-dimensional image of the surgical field. The high degree of precision provided by this technology allows smaller incisions and less invasive procedures and the ability to perform technically precise maneuvers not possible previously.

The surgical suite is comprised of three main components:

  • An ergonomic surgeon's console
  • A patient side cart with interactive robotic arms operated by the surgeon
  • A high definition, 3-D vision system that greatly enhances visualization of tissue planes and critical anatomy

Working from a console, steps away from the patient side cart, the da Vinci System allows the surgeon's hand movements to be scaled, filtered and translated into precise movements of micro-instruments within the operative site.

Unlike conventional laparoscopic surgery, the robotic arms move around a fixed pivot point which results in reduced port site for improved cosmesis and increased overall precision.

The da Vinci Surgical System has been successfully used in tens of thousands of minimally invasive procedures worldwide.

Conditions Treated with Robotic-Assisted Surgery