Alegent Health - Robotic-assisted Surgery - Frequently Asked Questions

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Robotic-assisted Surgery - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Minimally Invasive Surgery?
A: Minimally invasive surgery is surgery performed through small incisions resulting in potentially shorter recovery times, fewer complications, reduced hospitalization costs and reduced trauma to the patient. Laparoscopy is a type of minimally invasive surgery. Despite its widespread use, laparoscopic surgery has been limited to a few routine procedures, because the standard laparoscopic instruments and video did not provide the surgeon with the excellent visualization needed to perform complex surgery like valve repair or nerve-sparing prostatectomy.

Q. What are the benefits of robotic assisted surgery, using the da Vinci Surgical System compared with traditional methods of surgery?
A. Some of the major benefits experienced by surgeons using the da Vinci Surgical System over traditional approaches have been greater surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved dexterity, enhanced visualization and improved access. Benefits experienced by patients may include a shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss, fewer transfusions, less scarring, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal daily activities. None of these benefits can be guaranteed, as surgery is necessarily both patient- and procedure-specific.

Q. Does the robotic assisted surgical system make the surgeon unnecessary?
A. The system replicates the surgeon's movements in real time. It cannot be programmed, nor can it make decisions on its own to move in any way or perform any type of surgical maneuver without the surgeon's input. Combined with the enhanced three-dimensional visualization of the operative site it enables precise, versatile instrument movement.

Q. Is a surgeon using the da Vinci Surgical System operating in "virtual reality?"
A. Although seated at a console a few feet away from the patient, the surgeon views an actual image of the surgical field while operating in real-time, through tiny incisions, using miniaturized, wristed instruments. At no time does the surgeon see a virtual image or program/command the system to perform any maneuver on its own/outside of the surgeon's direct, real-time control.

Q: Is this telesurgery? Can you operate over long distances?
A. The da Vinci Surgical System can theoretically be used to operate over long distances. This capability, however, is not the primary focus of the company and thus is not available with the current da Vinci Surgical System.

Q: Where is the da Vinci Surgical System being used now?
A. The da Vinci Surgical System is being used in hundreds of locations worldwide, in major centers in the United States, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia and Turkey.Tens of thousands of procedures including general, urologic, gynecologic, thoracoscopic, and thoracoscopically-assisted cardiotomy procedures have been performed using the da Vinci Surgical System.

Q. How does the da Vinci Surgical System at Alegent Health compare to those found at other area hospitals?
A. Alegent Health's daVinci S is the state-of-the art, top of the line system. It has many enhancements, including the 3DHD imaging system and a 4th arm that the surgeon can use as an assistant. It is the first of its type in the United States and Alegent Health will be the only health system in Nebraska to have it.

Q. Has the da Vinci Surgical System been cleared by the FDA?
A. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the da Vinci Surgical System for a wide range of procedures. Please see the FDA Clearance page for specific clearances and representative uses.

Q: Is da Vinci Surgery covered by insurance?
A. da Vinci Surgery is categorized as robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery, so any insurance that covers minimally invasive surgery generally covers da Vinci Surgery. This is true for widely held insurance plans like Medicare. It is important to note that your coverage will depend on your plan and benefits package. For specifics regarding reimbursement for da Vinci Surgery, or if you have been denied coverage, please call the Reimbursement Hotline at 1-888-868-4647 ext. 3128.

Q. Why is it called the da Vinci (r) Surgical System?
A. The product is called "da Vinci" in part because Leonardo da Vinci invented the first robot. He also used unparalleled anatomical accuracy and three-dimensional details to bring his masterpieces to life. The da Vinci Surgical System similarly provides physicians with such enhanced detail and precision that the System can simulate an open surgical environment while allowing operation through tiny incisions.