Precision Robotics in Surgery: Unveiling the Wonders of Robotic Surgery

You may have heard of robotic surgery, a cutting-edge technology that is transforming the landscape of surgical procedures. Want to know how robots work?
The UCSF Medical Center is committed to enhancing the safety and efficacy of medical services,robotic surgery is a crucial tool for achieving this goal.Surgeons utilizing this innovative technology report that compared to other methods, robotic-assisted surgery demonstrates superior precision, maneuverability, and accessibility, enabling them to handle extremely delicate and complex surgeries with ease.
UCSF Medical Center is one of the first medical institutions in the western United States to implement robotic-assisted surgery, consistently leading in this technology and continuously introducing the latest robotic advancements.
During robotic-assisted surgery, surgeons sit at a console several feet away from the patient,using an advanced high-tech interface on the console to skillfully operate robotic arms equipped with tiny cameras and surgical instruments, executing the procedure with precision. Throughout the entire surgical process, the surgeon maintains full control..
Robotic-assisted surgery is a form ofminimally invasive surgery that performs precise surgical operations through several small incisions. Compared to other minimally invasive surgical techniques, robotic-assisted surgery provides surgeons with greater accuracy, a wider range of motion, and better visibility during the procedure.
The UCSF robotic surgery team believes that this technology combines the advantages of two surgical approaches: it offers the precise control and visibility of open surgery while allowing patients to enjoy all the benefits of minimally invasive procedures.
Precision Robotics in Surgery: Unveiling the Wonders of Robotic Surgery

Advantages of Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Compared to open surgery, robotic-assisted surgery combines all the advantages of minimally invasive surgery, including:
  • Smaller incisions
  • Less scarring

  • Less pain

  • Faster recovery

  • Lower risk of postoperative infection

Robotic-assisted surgery allows more patients to have access to minimally invasive procedures.In the past, patients requiring complex surgical treatments often had to opt for more invasive open surgeries. However, thanks to the flexibility, precision, and clear visibility provided by robotic-assisted surgery, many patients can now choose less invasive options..
The risk of temporarily enlarging incisions during conventional minimally invasive surgery has significantly decreased. Nevertheless, in the face of complex anatomical structures or other unforeseen circumstances, surgeons may still need to convert from minimally invasive to open surgery. However, multiple studies have shown that this situation occurs much less frequently in robotic-assisted surgeries compared to other types of minimally invasive procedures.
Although research on the advantages of robotic surgery is ongoing,many surgeons who have utilized this technology believe that robotic-assisted surgery achieves better surgical outcomes compared to other techniques and enables them to perform complex surgeries that were previously difficult to manage..
It is worth noting thatrobotic-assisted surgery is not suitable for all surgical cases. Differences in surgery type, patient age, health status, and medical history may indicate that other surgical methods are more appropriate. If surgery is required, the patient’s surgeon will discuss in detail with the patient to determine the most suitable treatment plan.

Significant Milestone—UCSF Completes 15,000 Robotic-Assisted Surgeries

The UCSF Medical Center’s gastrointestinal cancer surgery team has completed its 15,000th robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery, marking UCSF as the first medical institution within the University of California system to reach this milestone.UCSF Medical Center is the center performing the most robotic-assisted surgeries within the University of California system and holds a leading position in robotic-assisted surgery among academic medical institutions in the western United States.
Precision Robotics in Surgery: Unveiling the Wonders of Robotic Surgery
This milestone surgery was performed by Dr. Mohamed Adam, a surgical expert in liver, pancreas, and bile duct cancer, using robotic-assistedduodenectomy. Dr. Adam has extensive experience in utilizing minimally invasive robotic technology. The patient is a 52-year-old woman diagnosed withgastrointestinal stromal tumor. Dr. Adam completed the surgery using the Da Vinci surgical system, which is used in many robotic surgeries at UCSF.
Dr. Adam further explained, “Under traditional open surgery, the resection of the third part of the duodenum is extremely complex, potentially leading to a prolonged hospital stay for the patient. Moreover, patients may experience difficulties in eating post-surgery, leading to weeks of hospitalization, requiring intravenous nutrition while waiting for the incision to heal.
Duodenectomy is a surgical procedure performed on patients withsmall intestine cancer. While it can be performed using traditional methods,robotic-assisted duodenectomy can be completed through several small incisions, helping to reduce patient pain, minimize scarring, and shorten recovery time while lowering infection risk.
Dr. Adam mentioned, “The patient’s tumor was located near the superior mesenteric artery and vein, which supply and drain the intestines, making it very challenging to operate in that area, requiring a high level of precision.With the robot’s camera, I could clearly observe the tumor, colon, and surrounding tissues. Therefore, I was able to perform the surgery precisely through a small incision without pulling on the colon and surrounding tissues.
Surgical robots can provide up to 10x magnified, visualized 3D surgical views, helping surgeons enhance flexibility and precision in surgical operations and tissue removal.While the surgical robot adjusts bodily tissues, surgeons can guide the robotic arms and other surgical instruments through the robotic-assisted surgical system, just like Dr. Adam did.
In this surgery, Dr. Adam successfully removed the patient’s tumor, and the patient was discharged five days post-surgery. The patient felt well after the surgery, and recovery progressed smoothly. Dr. Adam noted that the patient’s tumor had been completely removed, and further evaluations would continue, but no additional treatment or surgery was necessary.

Embracing Innovative Robotic-Assisted Surgical Patterns

In addition to robotic-assisted duodenectomy, Dr. Adam is also proficient in utilizing robotic-assisted pancreaticoduodenectomy (also known as Whipple surgery) to treat specific pancreatic and bile duct cancers.
It is these types of robotic-assisted surgeries and various robotic operational techniques that have helped UCSF’s surgical team rise to the forefront of the industry.In the western United States, only a few medical institutions possess such a number of robotic surgical devices and a team of surgeons trained in robotic-assisted surgery, and UCSF Medical Center is one of them.In 2023, the UCSF surgical team completed over 2,000 robotic-assisted surgeries and is expected to surpass 2,500 in 2024. UCSF Medical Center has nine dedicated robotic-assisted surgical rooms and 59 surgeons specializing in robotic-assisted surgery, now recognized as a leader in innovative technology and minimally invasive surgery in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Thoracic surgeon and UCSF Robotic Surgery Program Medical Director Dr. Johannes Kratz stated, “We are one of the first medical institutions in the western United States to implement robotic-assisted surgery and have always been at the forefront of technology, continuously introducing the latest robotic advancements.Thanks to UCSF Medical Center’s commitment to integrating the latest medical achievements into patient care, we have successfully completed 15,000 robotic-assisted surgeries, achieving this significant milestone.”
Currently, UCSF offers robotic-assisted surgical solutions across various specialties and surgical types, including cancer resections of the lung, uterus, ovaries, colon, rectum, esophagus, bladder, prostate, head and neck, liver, and pancreas.Additionally, robots can assist in cardiac mitral valve repair, treatment of uterine fibroids and endometriosis, pelvic organ prolapse repair, hernia repair, and weight loss surgeries.
Recently, UCSF Medical Center has also introduced robotic-assisted kidney donor nephrectomy, robotic-assisted sleeve gastrectomy, and outpatient robotic surgeries. The University of California medical system has also introduced the latest single-port surgical robots and robotic-assisted bronchoscopy technology.
Dr. Kratz stated, “The outstanding results we have achieved in robotic-assisted surgery reflect our team’s extensive experience and expertise. Robotic-assisted surgery is one of our minimally invasive surgical solutions aimed at enhancing the safety of medical services and helping patients recover more quickly.”
Precision Robotics in Surgery: Unveiling the Wonders of Robotic Surgery

Why Choose UCSF for Robotic Surgery?

UCSF Medical Center has a large-scale, modern robotic surgery program. We offer:
🔷 Advanced Technology: UCSF Medical Center hasseven multi-port surgical robots (Da Vinci Xi system) and single-port surgical robots (Da Vinci SP system), mastering the most advanced robotic surgical techniques available today..
🔷 Multispecialty Expertise: At UCSF, many specialists have undergone training in robotic surgery. Therefore,surgeries requiring the collaboration of multiple specialty surgeons can be fully performed with robotic assistance—something many other medical centers cannot offer..
🔷 Extensive Surgical Experience: As with any type of surgery, experience is crucial.Our surgeons perform over 1,400 robotic-assisted surgeries annually. UCSF Medical Center is one of the medical centers in the United States performing the most robotic-assisted surgeries..
Our surgeons utilize robotic-assisted surgery to address health issues across multiple specialty areas, including:
  • Cancer surgery
  • Cardiac surgery

  • Gastrointestinal surgery

  • Gynecological surgery

  • Neurosurgery

  • Orthopedic surgery

If you find this article valuable or think it may help your friends and family, feel free to share. If you or someone you know is interested in learning about or considering advanced robotic surgery, please contact the UCSF Medical Center International Services Department to learn about our cutting-edge treatment options.

About UCSF Medical Center

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) focuses on health sciences, committed to promoting global health through advanced biomedical research, life sciences, and graduate education in health professions, as well as excellence in patient care.

UCSF is recognized as one of the world’s leading research universities, fostering a culture of collaboration focused on understanding, preventing, and treating diseases. UCSF is the public medical institution receiving the largest funding support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

From new discoveries about controlling the AIDS epidemic to innovative responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, to laying important foundations for today’s biotechnology industry with recombinant DNA technology, UCSF scientists are leading a revolutionary change in the field of medicine.

Precision Robotics in Surgery: Unveiling the Wonders of Robotic Surgery

UCSF Health Medical Center and MORE Health
MORE Health is UCSF Health’s cross-border medical partner, enabling a large number of experts through the MORE Health platform to provide Chinese patients access to top American physicians and enjoy high-quality medical resources.
This article is reproduced from: UCSF Health Medical Center
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