UW Health: UW Hospital expands options for minimally invasive surgical procedures with new robotic system

CONTACT: Gian Galassi

(608) 263-5561

ggalassi@uwhealth.org

MADISON—University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics has expanded its range of minimally invasive surgical options with the acquisition of the new da Vinci Xi, the latest generation of robot–assisted surgical systems on the market. UW is the only hospital in the state and one of only 50 nationwide to bring this new technology to patients.

Cleared by the FDA in April 2014, the da Vinci Xi Surgical System is an expandable technology platform designed to accommodate and integrate a range of current technologies in areas such as imaging, advanced instrumentation and anatomical access.

UW Health urologist Dr. David Jarrard, a nationally recognized prostate cancer expert who has performed more than 1,000 robot-assisted procedures with earlier generations of the da Vinci robot, says the Xi allows for greater control, precision and range of motion.

“The new system provides the surgeon with greater dexterity and flexibility, which will allow us to improve on and expand the kinds of surgical procedures we perform using this minimally invasive approach,” says Jarrard, who performed the first two prostatectomies using the Xi this past week. “We’re looking forward to exploring the possibilities of this new system and proud that UW Hospital continues to be at the forefront of surgical innovation.”

In addition to greater surgical control, Jarrard says the Xi was also designed with efficiency in mind. The system’s new overhead architecture means surgeons no longer have to reposition the robot during certain procedures, thereby cutting down on critical time spent in the operating room—one of the major criticisms of previous generations of the da Vinci robot.

UW Health surgeons currently perform a wide range of procedures using the da Vinci robot, including cardiac, thoracic, gynecologic, urologic, otolaryngologic, and general surgery procedures.

Robotic surgery is not suitable for every patient or procedure, and traditional open or laparoscopic approaches may be more appropriate options in those cases.