What IS da Vinci Total Hysterectomy?

First and foremost just who is Leonardo da Vinci?

According to HISTORY.com or better known as The History Channel to most of us:

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was a painter, architect, inventor and student of all things scientific. His natural genius crossed so many disciplines that he epitomized the term Renaissance man. Today he remains best known for his art, including two paintings that remain among the world’s most famous and admired,  Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.

Art, da Vinci believed, was indisputably connected with science and nature. Largely self-educated, he filled dozens of secret notebooks with inventions, observations and theories about pursuits from aeronautics to anatomy.

The full scoop: Leonardo da Vinci — Facts & Summary

__________________________

Secondly, just why was the surgical robot named after Leonardo da Vinci?

According to Intuitive Surgical: 

Why da Vinci? 
The name da Vinci stems for the 15th century inventor, painter, philosopher and Renaissance man: da Vinci is widely known for advancing the study of human anatomy. He participated in autopsies, produced many  extremely detailed anatomical drawings and planned a comprehensive work of human and comparative anatomy.

His study of human anatomy eventually led to the design of the first known robot in history. This design, which has come to be known as Leonardo’s Robot, [see photo at top of this post] was probably made around the year 1495 but was rediscovered in the 1950s. da Vinci was intrigued by mechanics and automation. He developed a number of mannequins including a mechanical knight.

See more at: da Vinci’s History according to Intuitive Surgical

_________________________

The da Vinci robot is used in many other surgeries, not simply hysterectomy alone.  However, this being a hysterectomy information experiential blog I’m only interested in the hysterectomy reasons.

ex·pe·ri·en·tial
ikˌspirēˈen(t)SH(ə)l/
adjective
involving or based on experience and observation.

Surgeon at console, Robotic cart AKA “the da Vinci robot”, Vision cart

From Women’s Health Foundation:  

Should da Vinci Remove Your Uterus?  ~ Kelly

The brand name of the system used in robotic surgery is da Vinci. The da Vinci robot is made by Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Robotic surgeries are performed by a surgeon who sits remotely (as in a few feet away) at a control panel; the surgeon uses joystick-like mechanisms to direct the robot’s movements. Very small operating tools are attached to the robot’s arms. Three small incisions are made in the patient; two of the incisions are for the robot’s arms. The third incision is for the camera; [the laparoscopy] a thin tube with the camera at its end is inserted into the patient and gives the surgeon a 3-D, enlarged view of the abdomen. The robot’s arms match the surgeon’s hand movements.

Why are laparoscopy and robotic surgeries beneficial to a patient?

Both procedures are minimally invasive, so the incisions are small and therefore quicker to heal than the large incision required for an open abdominal surgery. Laparoscopy and robotic procedures share many benefits; they both lower risk of infection post-operation (because of reduced time in the abdomen and smaller incisions), blood loss is far less in both procedures compared to an open surgery, scars are smaller (vs. open surgery), and recovery from surgery/length of hospital stay is usually shorter (compared to open surgery).

Read the full article: Should da Vinci Remove Your Uterus?

Cats at the ‘The Last Supper’ … quite sure that’s a tuna burger.

__________________________

According to Dr. Mark A. Talamini: 

Robotic surgery offers some real advantages over laparoscopic techniques in the abdominal area … most surgeons will agree that there are real benefits to using robotic systems. As laparoscopic surgeons, we lost our tactile feedback, our three-dimensional visibility, wrist degrees of freedom, and even a comfortable operating posture. Robotic surgery can give a lot of that back.

The vivid, three-dimensional visibility of the robotic system is like nothing else that I’ve seen to date. Robotic systems also return the ability to get behind tissues. And these systems offer a more comfortable posture.

The complete kit & caboodle: ACS Surgery News — Significant advantages for robotic vs. laparoscopic surgery for abdominal procedures

_____________________________

The smallest feline is a masterpiece. ~ Leonardo da Vinci

Catherine Mohr works on surgical robots and robotic surgical procedures, using robots to make surgery safer — and to go places where human wrists and eyes simply can’t. Catherine Mohr is the clinical design leader for the daVinci Surgical Robotic system.

FACT: The first successful surgery using the da Vinci surgical system was performed in Belgium in 1997!

Catherine Mohr on TED Talks (TED Talks video — 18 mins) 

Catherine Mohr & The da Vinci Robot

 Thanks Catherine!  You rock! ❤

---

 PS: I’m not a rep for the da Vinci robot … I swear!