The Minimally Invasive Approach
Since 2013 the Crozer Health's bariatric surgeons have specialized in minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery using the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System. This technique is a less invasive approach, using a small camera to view internal organs through small (1/4-1 inch) incisions. The benefits of laparoscopy include:
- Less pain after surgery
- More rapid recovery
- Smaller scars
- Fewer wound problems and less risk of infection
- Reduced risk of a hernia
Traditional open surgery for a gastric bypass involves making a 10- to 12-inch incision to access the stomach and intestines. However, not every patient is a candidate for the laparoscopic approach. The final decision will be determined by your surgeon.
Advantages of Robotic Surgery
If you are a candidate for bariatric surgery, you may want to consider gastric bypass surgery or sleeve gastrectomy with robotic surgery. Crozer-Chester Medical Center is one of the first hospitals offering bariatric surgery through the use of the da Vinci robotic surgical system.
The advantages of robotic surgery, in general, are well-documented: less invasive surgery means less pain, more rapid recovery, smaller scars, and reduced risk of complications.
The robotic platform allows the surgeons to operate on the more complex patients including those that weigh more than 300 pounds or have a body mass index (BMI) more than 50. The robot is able to provide the necessary strength to help negotiate the heavier abdominal wall that is usually seen in people with a BMI greater than 50. Greater accuracy improves the chance that the surgery will have a safe outcome.
In addition, the da Vinci system allows surgeons to see internal organs in three-dimensional high definition, impossible with regular laparoscopic surgery. Surgeons are also able to control four instruments at the same time, which increases surgical precision.
Regardless of which type of surgery you choose, our team of specialists can help guide you to make the best choice for your particular health needs.