Using The Da Vinci Robot for Minimally Invasive Surgery

Advanced robot-assisted technology makes recovery from complex surgeries easier.

Between pain and long recovery times, surgery can feel daunting for many reasons. But surgeons at Adventist Health Glendale are using robotic technology to make operations less invasive, meaning shorter recovery times and fewer of the risks involved with traditional surgeries.

Robot-assisted Surgery

Adventist Health Glendale surgeons use the da Vinci robotic surgical system, which translates a specially trained surgeon’s hand movements precisely and with a much greater range of motion than humans can achieve. “This results in smaller incisions that are less susceptible to infection and quicker to heal compared with those from traditional surgery,” says Robert Yavrouian, MD, a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon.

“With the da Vinci robot, we have better control of the instruments and greater visibility in small spaces,” says Avo Artinyan, MD, a fellowship-trained surgical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers. “The pelvis is the perfect example of a small, tight space where a surgeon needs control, and the da Vinci robot is a tool that gives us that precision.”

Reduced Recovery Time

Because a surgeon using the da Vinci robot can perform complex procedures through very small incisions, people who opt for robotic surgery see several benefits. “Not only does the da Vinci robot expand the number of minimally invasive operations we can do, but the biggest advantage is the short-term results patients see,” says Raffi Chalian, MD, a board-certified gynecologic oncologist. “They have a decreased risk for blood clots, infections and injury to abdominal structures.”

Generally, people who undergo surgery performed with the da Vinci robot have shorter hospital stays, less postoperative pain and fewer complications. Board-certified urologist Kamyar Ebrahimi, MD, notes that while people who have traditional kidney or prostate operations often stay in the hospital for three to five days and face a recovery of six to eight weeks, “with the robot, we can often send the patient home the next day because their pain is significantly reduced, and their recovery takes three to four weeks.”

A History Of Successful Surgeries

Robotic surgery may seem like a new trend in the surgical world, but surgeons have been performing minimally invasive procedures with this technology for years. In fact, Adventist Health Glendale has offered robot-assisted surgery with the da Vinci surgical system for more than 10 years and recently upgraded to the latest model.

“Robotic surgery has been around for decades,” Dr. Chalian says. “There are countless well-documented cases showing that robotic surgery is a safe and effective tool in the hands of a skilled surgeon.”

Recover Better

Learn more about how Adventist Health Glendale’s surgeons can help you recover faster.

Nationally recognized for quality care

Adventist Health Glendale offers award-winning, quality care inspired by a goal of transforming community health. Our expert physicians and services have been recognized with two consecutive five-star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 14 consecutive A grades from The Leapfrog Group and a 2021 Best Hospitals ranking by U.S. News & World Report.