da Vinci Surgical System & Gynecology Conditions

Women who suffer from various gynecology conditions that require surgery now can benefit from the da Vinci® Surgical System. This robot-assisted surgery system allows doctors to perform laparoscopic and some complex surgeries with greater precision and control than traditional surgery. Some formerly invasive surgeries can even be performed laparoscopically.

St. John’s Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the Twin Cities to offer the state-of-the-art da Vinci system for treating gynecology conditions. Over the past five years, daVinci has become widely used for treating men with prostate cancer.

How it works

The doctor is seated at a console, which is a few feet away from the patient. From the console the doctor controls the robotic arms, which hold a tiny camera and surgery instruments. These instruments operate through several small incisions. The camera sends images back to the surgeon who sees them on a 3D monitor.
The robot acts as an extension of the doctors hands. It allows him or her to perform surgery with pinpoint accuracy and very little damage to surrounding tissue.

Benefits

Some potential benefits of da Vinci as compared to traditional open surgery are:

Potential for future pregnancy
Significantly less pain
Less blood loss
Fewer complications
Less scarring
Shorter hospital stay
Faster return to daily activities

Using the da Vinci for gynecology conditions is considered safe and effective, but may not be appropriate for every woman. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, including the risks and benefits.

For more information on gynecological surgeons who use da Vinci at St. John's, call Care Connection at 651-326-2273. These surgeons can provide you with specific details about gyno conditions and how they are treated using the da Vinci Surgical System.