Minimally Invasive Surgery
To provide patients with a full range of treatment options, one of the many procedures performed by UC Davis surgeons is minimally invasive surgery. Depending on the patient and condition being treated, this can be an excellent alternative to conventional "open" surgery that typically involves large incisions.
This technologically advanced option, which can include robotic-assisted techniques, requires incisions just a few millimeters in length. The small incisions create a passageway for special surgical instruments and a fiber-optic instrument called a laparoscope. The device transmits images from within the body to a video monitor, allowing the surgeon to see the operative area on the screen. This approach enables physicians to perform many kinds of major surgery with less patient trauma and pain, minimal scarring, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays.
Whether it is a minimally invasive or conventional procedure, UC Davis surgeons work in close consultation with patients to determine the best possible treatment options for each and every case. Each surgical team includes specialty-trained, board-certified physicians who are dedicated to providing the best care and able to tailor advanced procedures to each patient’s unique situation.
Robotic surgery
Robotic-assisted procedures represent the latest development in minimally invasive surgical techniques, providing surgeons with a precision tool that can be used through small incisions and openings. The robotic system offers broad visualization of the operative field and precision control of surgical instruments. With its stereoscopic, 3-D imaging and precision-guided wrist movements, the robotic-assisted system allows surgeons to combine the best of both endoscopic and regular open surgery techniques. It is an advantage that can truly benefit patients. UC Davis Medical Center surgeons offer robotic-assisted surgery in specialties that include cardiothoracic, gastrointestinal and head and neck surgery, gynecologic oncology, spine sugery, brain surgery, and urology.
