Robotic Surgery FAQ |
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1. Where will the incisions be? 2. How long does the procedure take? 3. What does the robot look like? 4. How will I be positioned for the surgery? 5. Are there any special precautions taken to monitor me during the surgery? 6. How do you get everything out through those small incisions? 7. What can I expect my recovery to be like? 8. Are there any limitations on my activities? 1. Where will the incisions be? In general there will be 4-6 small (1/4") incisions in the abdomen.
The number and size of these may vary depending on your condition
and the exact procedure you are having. 2. How long does the procedure take? The length of the procedure depends on what you are having done.
A simple hysterectomy takes about an hour. If you have lymph nodes
removed, this can take an additional 1 to 1-1/2 hrs. For a radical
hysterectomy, these usually take 3-4 hrs. Of course you are in the
operating room for a longer period of time as it requires about 30-45
min of preparation time for the anesthesiologist to put you to sleep
and get you properly positioned for the case. 3. What does the robot look like? There is a console that is positioned away from the patient
to the side of the room- this is where your surgeon will operate from. 4. How will I be positioned for the surgery? You will be carefully placed on your back, with your legs in
moveable stirrups that allow access to the perineum/vagina. Soft pads
are placed under you, around your sides, and supporting your shoulders
and head. This allows us to put you in a steep Trendelenberg position-
tilted with your head down so we can operate safely in the pelvis. 5. Are there any special precautions taken to monitor me during the surgery? Depending on the anesthesiologist preference and your medical
condition, you may have a special IV catheter placed into an artery
in your wrist- this allows the anesthesiologist to monitor your blood
pressure carefully during the procedure. They also use a special brain
wave monitor that allows them to carefully monitor your level of sedation. 6. How do you get everything out through those small incisions? Your uterus, tubes, and ovaries as well as any large mass or
large packet of lymph nodes are generally extracted through the vagina
after the hysterectomy is completed. Occasionally the vagina is too
stenotic (tight) to allow this and one of the laparoscopic port incisions
has to be enlarged to allow passage through. Usually this is still
pretty small however, and much smaller than the larger incision required
if the surgery were done in the traditional open fashion. 7. What can I expect my recovery to be like? Most patients are able to drink liquids the night of their surgery
and sit up on the side of the bed. By the first day after surgery,
most are able to eat light meals, walk in the halls, and generally
get around as needed. Our goal is for most patients to go home on
the first day after surgery, although if needed, we certainly will
keep you as long as necessary for your safety. Many patients require
little to no narcotic pain medication and are adequately controlled
with simple ibuprofen or acetaminophen within a day or so. Most patients
have fully recovered and are back to their normal activities within
1-2 weeks. 8. Are there any limitations on my activities? Once you go home, you may do whatever you feel comfortable doing
as long as it doesn't hurt. Stairs are ok if you are steady enough
on your feet not to fall. You may drive once you are off of narcotics,
can comfortably put on your seatbelt, and press the brake pedal in
an emergency without hurting yourself or someone else. In general
this is 1-2 weeks after surgery. You may bathe, or shower. Please
do not place anything in the vagina or have intercourse for 4-6 weeks
after surgery. |
