da Vinci™ Surgical System

da Vinci® Surgery at Saint Mary's Health Care. Saint Mary's Health Care and The Lacks Cancer Center are equipped with two state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical Systems, a minimally invasive robotic technology that is significantly changing the way surgery is performed. The da Vinci allows our surgical oncologists to remove prostate and gynecologic cancers with unmatched precision. We are also expanding the uses of the da Vinci to include surgeries for thoracic cancers, urologic-gynecology and benign gynecologic issues.

By using this system the surgeon need only create tiny openings to insert instruments, as opposed to the 3 to 8 inch incisions typically created for more traditional open surgery. In addition, the surgeon has the ability to see vital organs more clearly, as well as control each stroke of the da Vinci micro-instruments while performing complex oncologic procedures. This revolutionary technology makes the need for more invasive prostate or hysterectomy surgeries unnecessary.

For most patients, da Vinci offers numerous potential benefits over traditional open surgeries including:
 

• Shorter hospital stay 
• Less pain
• Less risk of infection
• Less blood loss and transfusions
• Less scarring
• Faster recovery
• Quicker return to normal activities

Saint Mary's Health Care is the only hospital in West Michigan with two da Vinci Surgical Systems. Our physicians lead the region in the number of robotic-assisted surgeries performed. From April 2007 through August 2008, nearly 400 surgeries have been performed with the da Vinci Surgical System.

Ask your physician for a referral to The Lacks Cancer Center. Or for more information about robotic surgery, call 1-877-LACKS-MI or 616-752-LACK(S).