da Vinci™ Surgical System

da Vinci Surgical System for Gynecologic Conditions

da Vinci® Hysterectomy at The Lacks Cancer Center. The Lacks Cancer Center is equipped with the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical System, a robotic technology that allows our surgical oncologists to remove prostate and gynecologic cancers with unmatched precision. In fact, Saint Mary's surgeon, Dr. Kevin Brader, performed the first and only robotic gynecologic cancer surgery in West Michigan. To ensure the best outcomes in the treatment of cancer, our skilled surgeons base their surgical approach on each patient’s individual diagnosis (stage and spread of the cancer). These variations of the hysterectomy include:

Open Hysterectomy. The most conventional treatment has always been open surgery, which requires a large abdominal incision of 6 to 8 inches, in order to see and, if necessary, remove affected structures such as the cervix or the ovaries.

Vaginal Hysterectomy. This technique is most often used if the patient’s condition is non-cancerous, when the uterus is a normal size and/or when the cancer is confined to the uterus. A minimally invasive approach, the vaginal hysterectomy is performed without an external incision or subsequent scarring. The procedure itself is delicate and involves the removal of the uterus through the vagina.

Laparoscopic Hysterectomy. With the assistance of a miniature camera, the uterus is removed either vaginally or through small incisions made in the abdomen. Real-time, 2D images of the internal organs and structures offer surgeons better visibility than traditional vaginal hysterectomies.

The da Vinci Difference. This robot-assisted hysterectomy can provide the most effective, least invasive form of hysterectomy. Found in just a select number of hospitals throughout the nation, the da Vinci robotic system gives our surgeons the ability to remove uterine and ovarian cancers, as well as treat gynecologic disorders with unmatched precision. Unlike vaginal and laparoscopic hysterectomies (where surgeons are often challenged with small working spaces and potentially diminished views of pelvic organs) da Vinci hysterectomies provide 3D visualization and fine tissue-manipulation capabilities. This way, surgeons can not only see internal structures more clearly, but they are afforded more accuracy and control.

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

To learn more about da Vinci or to schedule a procedure, ask your primary care physician for a referral or make a self-referral by calling (616) 685-LACKS or 1-800-639-6266.