The Center for Robotic Surgery at Baptist Health South Florida is one of the most robust minimally invasive surgery programs in the country. With expertly trained surgeons and the latest robot-assisted technology, you can expect the highest quality care from our team.
The robotic surgeons at Baptist Health South Florida are trained in a range of specialty areas, including minimally invasive cancer treatments. Our surgeons are some of the most experienced in the country. Many of them have performed thousands of cases while teaching other surgeons and developing new techniques for the robotic platform.
The Center for Robotic Surgery at Baptist Health South Miami Hospital is designated as a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery (COERS) by the Clinical Robotic Surgery Association (CRSA) and a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology (COEMIG) by the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL).
How does robotic surgery work?
First, your surgeon will make a few dime-sized incisions in your body. The location of the incisions will depend on the type of surgery you have.
Your team will set up four robotic arms with tiny surgical tools and a 3-D camera (endoscope). These tools will fit through the incisions and will be controlled by the surgeon.
Once the equipment is in place, your surgeon will sit nearby in the operating room at a console with a monitor. The monitor will display a 3-D high-definition, real-time view of the inside of your body. The surgeon then uses hand and foot controls to direct the robotic arms, equipped with the surgical instruments, and perform the surgery. Surgeons describe the instruments as extensions of their own hands, with the same range and dexterity of normal hand and wrist movements.
What are the benefits of robotic surgery?
With a high-definition camera and precision tools, robotic surgery allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with more accuracy. Ultimately, this translates to better patient outcomes.
Because robotic surgery uses small incisions, it also means patients experience:
- Less blood loss
- Less pain
- Minimal scarring
- Less risk of infection
- A shorter hospital stay
- A faster return to normal activities
What types of robotic surgeries are offered at Baptist Health South Florida?
- General Surgery
- Bariatric Surgery
- Surgical Oncology
- Colorectal Surgery
- Gynecology Surgery
- Thoracic (chest) Surgery
- Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Surgery
- Urology Surgery
Some of the robotic treatments we offer include:
- Hysterectomy – This surgery removes the uterus and may be used to treat fibroids or cancer.
- Myomectomy – This procedure removes uterine fibroids but not the uterus.
- Sacrocolpopexy – This procedure provides support for the vagina after pelvic floor prolapse.
- Radical prostatectomy – This surgery removes the prostate gland to treat prostate cancer.
- Chest surgery – Also called thoracic surgery, chest surgery can include removing cancer from the lungs or procedures on the esophagus and thymus.
- Weight-loss surgery – This can include gastric bypass, adjustable band and revisional bariatric surgery.
- Colorectal surgery – This may be used to treat cancer, diverticulitis or rectal polyps.
- Kidney surgery – This may be used to remove tumors, blockages or other masses.
- Tongue and throat surgeries – These procedures may be used to treat benign tongue problems or throat cancer.
- Abdominal surgery – This may include surgery to repair hernias or to remove the gallbladder, spleen or tumors.
Locations
Baptist Health South Florida offers robotic surgery at:
South Miami Hospital
6200 SW 73 Street
South Miami, FL 33143
Baptist Hospital of Miami
8900 North Kendall Drive
Miami, FL 33176
Doctors Hospital
5000 University Drive
Coral Gables, FL 33146
West Kendall Baptist Hospital
9555 SW 162 Ave.
Miami, FL 33196
Bethesda Hospital East
2815 South Seacrest Blvd.
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Boca Raton Regional Hospital
800 Meadows Road
Boca Raton, FL 33486
Meet the Team
Our team includes Board-certified surgeons who have spent years dedicated to robotic surgery. Several of our surgeons are also considered pioneers in the field — they are developing new ways to use the technology and teaching other surgeons how to perform robotic surgery safely and effectively.
Welcome to Compassionate Cancer Care
Treating and beating cancer takes expertise and innovation. But it also requires courage and compassion. Our unparalleled team of cancer care professionals sees you and your needs, and offers not only the most precise, personalized treatments but also an ear to listen and a hand to hold along your journey. Embracing you while eradicating your cancer: that’s the warmer side of care. Welcome to Baptist Health Cancer Care.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Although it is called robotic surgery, or robot-assisted surgery, the tools used during the procedure are not programmed and do not move on their own. Instead, they are controlled by a highly skilled surgeon. The system translates the surgeon’s moves to the robotic arms in real-time.
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Many of Baptist Health’s surgeons have been extensively trained on the robotic surgery platform and have performed thousands of cases. Several of our surgeons also teach other surgeons how to use the robotic platform to perform safe and effective minimally invasive surgery. This level of experience is unmatched by most robotic surgery programs across the U.S., according to the robotic platform’s manufacturer.
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Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery uses small, specialized instruments and a camera that are placed in the body through tubes called trocars. While robotic surgery also uses trocars, the surgeon’s process is different.
Laparoscopic surgery requires the surgeon to operate as if he or she is looking in a mirror. Robotic surgery, however, uses arms and wrist-like instruments that move in the same direction as the surgeon’s hands. This allows the surgeon to perform the surgery without having to think backward.
The magnified high-definition camera also gives the surgeon a closer and clearer view of the organs and structures he or she is operating on.