Surgery

New and improved robotic surgery

Since 2001, specially trained surgeons at Boston Children's Hospital have used a high-tech robot to perform complex and delicate operations through small surgical openings. For patients, this technology translates into less pain and faster recoveries; for surgeons, it offers better precision and superior visualization. Children's was the first institution in the country to introduce this technology for use in pediatric patients, and worked with engineers and medical device manufacturers to develop and refine the equipment for use in children. Since then, Children's specialists have used the robot for procedures in Urology, Cardiology, Otolaryngology and General Surgery, and are developing applications for Neurosurgery and Fetal Surgery.

In 2009, Children's surgeons performed 75 robotic surgeries. Recently, Children's upgraded to the newest version of the robotic system, called the da Vinci Si. The new robot features enhanced high-definition 3D vision and is much smaller, reducing set-up time. It also includes two consoles so that two surgeons can collaborate during a procedure. "The visualization is markedly improved and the clarity is beautiful," says Hiep Nguyen, MD, co-director of the Center for Robotic Surgery and director of Robotic Surgery Research and Training.

The new technology aids interaction and communication between surgeons and nurses, making for a safer operating room. In the short term, the system enables Children's surgeons to operate on more diverse conditions with safety and efficiency; in the future, Nguyen hopes the robot may be utilized for fetal surgery and even remote surgery.