Inova Loudoun Hospital named national education and training epicenter for da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical technology

Innovation at its Best

Inova Loudoun Hospital was recently named a national education and training epicenter for surgeons using da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgical technology. The program is one of fewer than 20 general surgery programs nationwide given the distinction.

In a little more than a decade, robotic surgery has become the standard of care for many conditions, offering better results and a quicker recovery time than conventional laparoscopic surgery. While both techniques are known for small incisions and a quick recovery, robotic surgery offers many additional benefits through advanced technology.

“One of the primary advancements is the instruments tend to be much more articulated and jointed, giving you the ability to operate in much tighter spaces or smaller areas which you can’t do laparoscopically,” says James Lesniewski, MD, a minimally invasive robotic surgeon at Inova Loudoun Hospital. “In addition, the camera system gives you a true three-dimensional picture and clarification that we don’t have in laparoscopic surgery right now.”

Surgeon Brita Kriss, MD, agrees. “With robotic surgery I have magnified vision with 3-D high-definition systems as well as tiny-wristed instruments that can maneuver even  better than the human wrist,” she says.

Another advantage offered by robotic surgery is the use of fluorescence imaging to provide the most precise identification of a patient’s anatomy.

Common Myths About Robotic Surgery

In use for more than a decade, robotic surgery has been proven to be a safe, highly effective technique. Yet misperceptions about this high-tech option abound.

“The biggest concern for patients is they think the robot is automated,” says Dr. Lesniewski. “During a procedure, I have 100 percent control of all the instruments. I’ve actually gained control using the robotic platform as compared to laparoscopic because I can easily control multiple instruments at one time, so it’s faster, more efficient and safer.”

Another common myth is that robotic-assisted surgery is done without human intervention. In reality, a highly trained team is positioned next to the patient to monitor the entire procedure.

“The robot is another instrument in our armamentarium that has added a whole level of ability that we just didn’t have before,” says Dr. Lesniewski.

Learn more about which Inova hospitals use daVinci technology, see a video illustrating the differences between “traditional” and robotic-assisted surgery, and watch patient and physician videos at inova.org/davinci.