When medication, lifestyle changes and other non-surgical treatments cannot relieve symptoms, general surgery is often the recommended treatment for a wide range of conditions including:
- Gallbladder disease
- Hiatal and abdominal hernia
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Achalasia (swallowing disorder)
- Adrenal tumors
- Damage or disease to the spleen
If your doctor recommends general surgery - whether to remove your gallbladder or spleen, repair a hernia or treat reflux - you may be a candidate for minimally invasive surgery with a robotic surgical system at Princeton Medical Center (PMC).
While surgery is generally the most effective treatment option for many conditions, traditional open surgery with large incisions often results in pain, a long recovery time and risk of infection.
Fortunately, less invasive options are available, the most common being laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is performed through small incisions - often smaller than a quarter of an inch - that are used to insert long-shafted instruments. Though laparoscopic surgery is effective for many routine procedures, it has certain limitations when more complex surgery is involved.
Now, with the latest evolution in surgical technology, patients at PMC have a safe and effective alternative to traditional open and laparoscopic surgery with robotic surgical systems.
Robotic surgical system technology enables surgeons to operate through incisions less than an inch long with dramatically enhanced vision, precision and control.
Surgery with a robotic surgical system typically results in:
- Significantly less pain
- Less blood loss
- Less scarring
- Shorter recovery time
- A faster return to normal daily activities
- And in many cases, better clinical outcomes
Moreover, for patients with achalasia who struggle with moving food from their mouths to their stomachs, surgery with a robotic surgical system lessens the risk for esophageal tears.
Specially trained general surgeons at PMC are using robotic surgical system technology for a variety of procedures including:
- Cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal)
- Hiatal hernia repair
- Abdominal hernia repair
- Nissen fundoplication (stomach wrap for reflux disease)
- Esophagomyotomy (Heller) Myotomy (for achalasia)
- Splenectomy (spleen removal)
- Adrenal resection
While clinical studies support the effectiveness of robotic surgical systems when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with a robotic surgical system may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.
For more information about robotic surgery at PMC or for referral to one of our surgeons who performs surgeries using robotic surgical systems, call 1.888.742.7496.