Leading minimally invasive & robotic surgery

As technology-enhanced surgical techniques and tools continue to evolve, Advocate Health Care is always looking for ways to integrate them into our patient care. This is about more than staying current and competitive. It also reflects our deep commitments to improving surgical outcomes and speeding patient recovery.

If your doctor has recommended surgery, call 800-3-ADVOCATE to schedule a consultation or find a gastroenterologist online.

Greater surgical precision: less pain, faster recovery

State-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical techniques and tools - like the robotic-assisted da Vinci Si System - help our gastrointestinal surgeons achieve superior results in complex procedures, including:

• Pancreatic surgery
• Liver surgery, including hepatic resection
• Gastric resection
• Splenectomy
• Whipple procedure
• Heartburn / gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) surgery
• Hiatal hernia repair
• Colorectal surgery

How robotic-assisted surgery works

During robotic-assisted procedures, our surgeon provides direct input to the the da Vinci Si System for each maneuver. The equipment cannot be programmed ahead of time and does not make decisions on its own. The surgeon remotely controls a robotic arm with wrist-like joints that allow it to move very small surgical instruments in any direction. Supported by 3D imaging to improve the surgeon's view, the instruments act as an extension of the surgeon's own hands.

How it helps our patients

Robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery requires only small incisions, which limits nerve damage. As a result, patients often reach better levels of post-operative function faster and with less pain than conventional surgery.

By enhancing the surgeon's precision and control, robotic-assisted techniques:

• Reduce pain and scarring
• Shorten hospital stays
• Lower the risk of infection
• Reduce the need for transfusion
• Speed post-operative recovery
• Help our patients return to normal activities sooner