Leading the Way in Robotic Surgery and Whole-Person Care
If surgery is part of your journey to better health, you deserve a team that surrounds you with compassionate, expert care at every step. At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, we’re here for you, providing whole-person care that supports your body, mind and spirit before, during and after your procedure.
You’ll have access to a network known for accredited, award-winning care and advanced, minimally invasive techniques. Our surgical specialists use state-of-the-art robotic-assisted technology to reduce pain and scarring and enable a faster recovery, guiding your healing in the least invasive and most effective way possible. Count on us to help you return to the life you love.
How Robotic-Assisted Surgeries Mean Better Outcomes
- Minimally Invasive Procedures
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Our surgeons use minimally invasive techniques whenever possible to help make surgery easier on your body. Minimally invasive surgery allows doctors to operate through small incisions using specialized instruments, tiny cameras and high-definition monitors that provide a clear view inside the body. Because the incisions are smaller, people often experience less pain and blood loss and a faster recovery.
Laparoscopic procedures are a common type of minimally invasive operation our team performs. With the help of innovative surgical devices and remotely controlled instruments, our surgeons can make a few small incisions instead of the larger ones previously required for similar procedures.
Surgeries that we perform laparoscopically include:
- Anti-reflux procedures
- Hernia repair
- Liver and gallbladder procedures
- Pancreatic surgeries
- Benefits of Robotic-Assisted Surgery
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Robotic-assisted surgeries place a surgeon's hands at the controls of an advanced robotic platform, which often includes a robotic arm. The surgeon controls the robotic system, translating their hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the body. Robotic technologies empower surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with enhanced precision.
Robotic-assisted surgery offers our patients meaningful benefits like:
- Faster healing to help you get back to your normal routine sooner
- Less post-surgical pain, which minimizes the total time needed on pain medication afterward
- Lower infection risk after surgery
- Minimal blood loss, which reduces the chance of a blood transfusion being necessary
- Smaller incisions for little to no scarring
- Shortened hospital stay or even outpatient surgery
- Robotic-Assisted Procedures We Perform
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At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, we offer a variety of robotic-assisted procedures, including:
- Bariatric (weight-loss) surgery
- Colorectal surgery
- Gynecological procedures
- Hernia repair
- Orthopedic procedures
- Urology procedures
- The da Vinci® Surgical System
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The da Vinci surgical system has 3D vision that magnifies the surgical field up to 10 times, giving surgeons a more detailed view of operating sites than they can see with their eyes alone.
Its robotic arms and instruments help surgeons work with tissue from angles and positions that can be very difficult to access. More steady than human hands, the arms are controlled by a surgeon at a console next to the patient. The da Vinci instruments are even more precise than laparoscopic tools, allowing our surgeons to perform complex gynecological, urological, thoracic and general surgical procedures.
Surgical Services We Offer
Using advanced robotic technology, we offer a wide range of surgical procedures to help you feel your best again.
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Breast Cancer Surgery
Our expert surgeons perform procedures to surgically remove cancerous tissue within the breast, such as a lumpectomy or mastectomy.
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Cardiovascular Surgery
Your heart is in good hands with our skilled surgical team, which performs hundreds of cardiovascular procedures each year.
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Colorectal Surgery
Rest assured that we’re well-versed in proven procedures to remove cancer from the colon, rectum, intestines or surrounding tissue.
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Endoscopy
In this nonsurgical procedure, we use a thin, flexible tube with a light and a camera attached to examine the interior of hollow organs or cavities in the body.
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Gynecological Surgery
Our gynecological surgeons perform various surgical procedures, such as hysterectomy and endometrial ablation, to treat common and complex conditions.
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Hernia Surgery
Our physicians perform surgical procedures to repair hernias, which are bulges of internal organs or tissues through the walls that hold them in place, such as in the abdomen or groin.
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Laparoscopy
In a laparoscopy, we insert a fiber-optic instrument through the abdominal wall to view the organs in the abdomen, operate or perform a diagnostic procedure.
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Neurosurgery
Our experienced neurosurgeons perform a range of surgeries to treat many different conditions impacting the brain and nervous system.
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Orthopedic Surgery
Count on our orthopedic surgeons for joint replacements and other procedures to help you overcome joint and bone pain.
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Spine Surgery
Our highly specialized surgeons offer spine surgery procedures, such as spinal fusions, to treat back pain and spinal conditions.
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Thyroid Surgery
We perform this surgery to help treat a variety of thyroid conditions, including overactive thyroid glands, enlarged thyroid glands and cancerous and benign thyroid nodules.
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Urological Surgery
This type of surgery is performed on the urinary tract or reproductive organs, such as surgery to treat prostate cancer.
Accredited Surgical Care That Never Stops Improving
UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale and UChicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange have earned recognition for their dedication to high-quality surgical care and relentless self-improvement.
Constant Support, Well After Surgery
Our care doesn't end with your procedure. Our multidisciplinary team will be here for you before, during and after your surgery. We’ll connect you with resources, support groups and wellness programs that help you heal long after you return home, so you can continue to recover with the best support.
Answering Your Questions About Robotic-Assisted Surgery
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Q:Question: What is robotic-assisted surgery?
A:Answer:In a robotic-assisted surgery, a surgeon uses robotic technology — often a robotic arm that holds tiny instruments — to operate through very small incisions. Together with advanced imaging capabilities and incredibly accurate 3D planning tools, these procedures give surgeons greater precision and often result in reduced pain, faster recovery and improved outcomes for patients.
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Q:Question: Can anyone have robotic-assisted surgery?
A:Answer:Robotic surgical systems have become widely used for many surgical procedures, and many more applications are being developed every day. Talk to your doctor or a qualified surgeon to determine if robotic-assisted surgery is your best course of action.
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Q:Question: How long does it take to recover from robotic-assisted surgery?
A:Answer:Many people experience significantly shorter recovery times with robotic-assisted surgery compared to traditional, or open, surgeries. Your recovery time will vary depending on your age, the type of procedure and other factors.
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Q:Question: How do I know if robotic-assisted surgery is right for me?
A:Answer:Every patient’s situation and condition are unique. Consult a qualified surgeon to determine whether robotic-assisted surgery is right for you.
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Q:Question: How much does robotic-assisted surgery cost, and does insurance cover it?
A:Answer:Robotic-assisted surgery is typically no more expensive than traditional surgery and, depending on the specific procedure, can be far less costly. Consult your health insurance company to understand what’s covered with your plan.
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Q:Question: Do robotic-assisted surgeries have better outcomes than traditional surgery?
A:Answer:No surgical technique can guarantee a successful outcome. However, indications are that patients who have undergone robotic-assisted surgeries report a higher percentage of successful outcomes than those who have undergone traditional surgeries.