What is DaVinci

Hi!

I'm relatively new here and have read a lot about DaVinci. Exactly what is that?

DaVinci is the name of a piece of medical equipment. It is a robot that is used for laproscopic hysterectomies, prostate surgery and even heart surgery. If you read that someone had "robotic assisted" surgery, chances are it was the daVinci robot. I believe there are now two models, so it has already been improved upon since it was invented.

The DaVinci is entriely controlled by the doctor, who directs its every motion. The daVinci act like another set of arms for the doctor and is equipped with all sorts of instruments of various sizes. It resembles the console of your car, with two big "arms" on either side and the doctor sitting in the driver's seat. It relieves stress on the doctor, as he/she does not have to stand during the entire operation.

Doctors say that the daVinci gives them an ever better range of vision because it is more three-dimensional than what they can see standing directly over the patient. My gyn onc jokes that is is better than having a resident doctor as an assistant because it does not move and it does not talk back. My surgery included my gyn onc, a live resident, a surgical nurse, the anesthesologist and the daVinci.

There is a link on this web site to the daVinci web site, where you can find out more about it.

My DaVinci doc said something funny to me right before my surgery..."don't worry, I won't just turn the robot on and leave the room, I promise."

The DaVinci makes it very easy to gather lymph nodes for testing.

Oh daVinciNancy, that's a good one!

Forgot to say that not all laproscopic hysterectomies use the daVinci. Also, that doctors must take special training to use it. Because of the special training and the investment in the equipment, it is not usual for a small, local hospital like mine to offer surgery this way. I went to a teaching hospital over an hour's drive away for mine.

I had DaVinci surgery and totally totally totally loved it!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your response. It looks like I did not have a daVinci afterall. Just a normal, old vaginal hysterectomy. I didn't have an option of anything else. Maybe my area's just a bit behind the times.

Stringlady,

The important thing is that you are making a good recovery. Hope you are doing well overall.