Advanced Robotic Surgery
CommonSpirit Health International™ partner facilities perform countless procedures using the latest robotic technologies that offer greater precision—all of which can expedite healing and recovery.
The benefits of advanced robotic technology
Many CommonSpirit Health facilities feature the da Vinci® Surgical System, a sophisticated, minimally invasive robotic platform. Using articulated arms to manipulate endoscopic cameras and surgical tools, it provides surgeons with an alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, putting their hands at the controls of a state-of-the-art robotic system to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures with unmatched precision.
Many procedures can be accomplished robotically, with smaller incisions than traditional open surgery, to offer:
- Improved 3D optics for the surgeon
- Improved lymph node dissection
- Less tissue trauma and blood loss
- Less pain and scarring
- Less risk of infection
- Less post-operative pain medications
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster recovery and return to normal activities
Center of Excellence
St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona is proud to be an accredited Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) Center of Excellence in robotic surgery, signifying the ability to deliver the safest and highest-quality care by exceeding clinical benchmarks and guidelines. And St. Joseph’s now features the da Vinci Surgical System (DV5), the newest and most advanced model, featuring:
- Dual console that allows two surgeons to work simultaneously
- High-resolution 3D vision
- Integration with other audio/visual technologies in the operating room
- Enhanced vascular and lymphatic mapping
Robotic surgery procedures
Minimally invasive, robotic surgery offers improved outcomes for a wide range of conditions, such as:
- Chest wall tumors
- Colon resections
- Esophageal surgery (hernias to esophagectomy)
- Esophagectomy
- Gallbladder removal
- Heller myotomy
- Hernia repair
- Hysterectomy
- Kidney procedures
- Lobectomies
- Lung surgery (resections to lobectomies)
- Mediastinal tumor removals
- Mediastinal tumors
- Nissen fundoplication
- Pneumonectomy
- Prostatectomy
- Uterine fibroid removal
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center has successfully performed 700+ advanced robotic heart surgeries to-date.
Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center successfully performs the first fully robotic heart transplant in the U.S.
Surgeons at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center successfully performed a fully robotic heart transplant on an adult patient—the first reported in the United States.
Using a surgical robot, lead surgeon Dr. Kenneth Liao and his team made small, precise incisions, eliminating the need to open the chest and break the breast bone. Liao removed the diseased heart, and the new heart was implanted through preperitoneal space, avoiding chest incision.
“Opening the chest and spreading the breastbone can affect wound healing and delay rehabilitation and prolong the patient’s recovery, especially in heart transplant patients who take immunosuppressants,” said Liao, professor and chief of cardiothoracic transplantation and circulatory support at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of cardiothoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. “With the robotic approach, we preserve the integrity of the chest wall, which reduces the risk of infection and helps with early mobility, respiratory function and overall recovery.”
