Center for Robotic Surgery

The surgeon sits at a surgical console next to the patient. The surgeon performs the procedure from the console while viewing the surgical field through a 3-dimensional (3D) magnified image (up to 10X magnification). At the same time, the surgeon’s hand and wrist movements are seamlessly translated to the robot to complete the surgical procedure.

It is important to understand that the robot is controlled solely by the surgeon and is not capable of making decisions on its own. Every step of the surgery is performed through direct input from our surgeons. Through just a few small incisions — the size of a pea — our surgeons can perform the entire procedure.

With robot-assisted surgery, patients can have major surgery with only a few, tiny incisions. The benefits to the patient can include:

• Faster recovery
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less blood loss
• Reduced pain; less need for narcotic pain medication
• Less risk of infection
• Reduced scarring
• Fewer complications
• Quicker return to daily activities

Although it depends on your unique situation, robotic surgery can be used in a number of specialty areas. At JFK Medical Center, we have the most advanced and capable robotic system available in the da Vinci Xi. In fact, we have two of them, enabling our medical team to efficiently and expertly serve the central New Jersey community.

Our robotic surgery capabilities include these surgical specialties:

• Bariatric
• Colorectal
• Endocrine
• General
• Gynecologic
• Hepatobiliary
• Thoracic
• Urological

Specific conditions that we can manage with Robotic Surgery here at JFK Medical Center include:

• Adrenal glands tumors
• Bladder cancer
• Bowel obstruction
• Bowel tumors (small)
• Crohn’s disease
• Colon and rectal cancer
• Diaphragm hernia
• Diverticulitis
• Endometriosis
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Gallbladder disease
• Inguinal hernia
• Kidney cancer
• Liver masses
• Lung cancer
• Lung conditions (noncancerous)
• Lymph node removal
• Morbid obesity
• Ovarian masses and cancer
• Pancreatic masses
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Prostatic hypertrophy (benign)
• Prostate cancer
• Thoracic conditions (noncancerous)
• Ulcerative colitis
• Uterine bleeding (excessive)
• Uterine fibroids and cancer
• Urinary obstruction
• Ureteropelvic junction obstruction
• Umbilical hernia

JFK Medical Center was the first program in the region to obtain two of the most advanced and capable surgical robots: the da Vinci XI from Intuitive. The robotic surgery team has completed more than 1,000 procedures since 2016. It is comprised of physicians with many years of surgical experience and includes surgeons with extensive subspeciality training including fellowship training specifically in laparoscopic and robotic surgery techniques.

First and foremost, patient safety is our top priority. While minimally invasive robotic surgery reduces recovery time and provides surgeons with greater control, it is not for everyone. There are times when traditional open surgery is the better choice due to the patient’s age, physical condition, surgical history and access to the treatment area.

The hospital stay is dependent upon multiple factors including the procedure being performed, the patient’s medical and cardiac history, history of prior surgeries and patient healing. In some instances, the patient can go home on the day of surgery and in others the patient stays overnight in the hospital. It is important that you discuss your individual case with our robotic surgeons.

Robotic surgery is categorized as robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. Any insurance that covers minimally invasive surgery generally covers robotic surgery. It is important, however, to note that your coverage will depend on your plan and benefits package. You should check with your insurance carrier for detailed information prior to your surgery. Because robotic surgery requires only a few small incisions, the post-operative pain is usually less than that experienced during open surgery.

Robotic surgery is categorized as robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. Any insurance that covers minimally invasive surgery generally covers robotic surgery. It is important, however, to note that your coverage will depend on your plan and benefits package. You should check with your insurance carrier for detailed information prior to your surgery.