Robotic Surgery

In 2001, Children's was the first pediatric hospital to acquire a surgical robot. Today, surgeons use the technology for many procedures and perform more pediatric robotic surgeries than any other hospital in the world. Children's physicians have developed a number of new applications to expand the use of the robot, and train surgeons from around the world on its use.

Urology. The Urology Department has been at the forefront of pediatric robotic surgery since 2001. Today, urologists perform robotic surgery for:

• bladder augmentation
• renal surgery (selected)
• ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction (pyeloplasty)
• ureteral reconstruction
• stone disease
• vesicoureteral reflux
• duplex collecting system
• minimally invasive surgical procedures to correct disorders of the genitourinary system

Cardiovascular surgery. Heart surgeons at Children's are using the robotic technology to pioneer "closed-chest" cardiac surgery, an area that promises to revolutionize the field. Robotic surgery is now used to repair some congenital heart defects, including patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and vascular ring.

General surgery. The robotic equipment is used in a growing number of general surgery procedures including:

• achalasia surgery (heller myotomy)
• biliary reconstruction
• duodenal stenosis repair
• gastroesophogeal reflux surgery (fundoplication)
• lung resections