Robotic Surgery

What is robotic surgery?

Robotic surgery is also called robot-assisted surgery because it uses the assistance of a robotic arm and surgical instruments to provide a greater range of motion and enhanced precision. Dr. Vazquez uses state-of-the-art robotic surgical technology by Intuitive to perform complex procedures without making a large incision. 

During a robotic procedure, Ramon Vazquez Jr. is in complete control the entire time, working from a surgeon’s console. He operates the surgical instruments, which respond in real time to his hand movements. The system also includes a slim camera that sends 3D, high-definition images of the inside of your body to Ramon Vazquez Jr.'s console. 

What procedures can use robotic assistance?

Ramon Vazquez Jr. may use robotic technology to assist with many surgical procedures in the foregut, midgut, hepatobiliary, colon, and rectal areas. Common surgeries that use robotic assistance include:

• Esophageal surgery
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) surgery
• Stomach surgery
• Small bowel surgery
• Colon cancer surgery
• Diverticulitis surgery
• Gallbladder and pancreas hernias surgeries
• Diaphragm and abdominal wall surgery
• Inguinal surgery

Ramon Vazquez Jr. also performs minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery in the lower back (lumbar spine). Laparoscopic surgery also uses a thin camera to visualize the inside of your body through a very small incision. 

What should I expect from robotic surgery?

First, Ramon Vazquez Jr. carefully reviews your symptoms and medical history and performs a physical exam to make sure robotic surgery is right for you. Robotic surgery successfully treats many conditions, but some cases still require an open surgical approach. 

For less-complicated procedures, Ramon Vazquez Jr. may perform surgery on an outpatient, or ambulatory, basis, so you don’t have to stay in the hospital. During robotic surgery, you lie on the patient table while he operates from a separate console. 

First, he makes a small incision to insert the camera (laparoscope). This provides him with an up-close view of the inside of your body. After he locates the area that needs treatment, Ramon Vazquez Jr. makes 1-3 more tiny incisions, about the size of a buttonhole, for the specialized surgical tools. 

The robotic instruments respond to Ramon Vazquez Jr.'s hand movements but have a greater range of motion and capacity for control than the human hand. This provides him with an enhanced level of precision throughout the procedure. 

Because robotic surgery is minimally invasive, it involves less risk of complications, smaller scars, and a faster, less painful recovery for you. 

Call the office of Ramon Vazquez, MD, PA, or book an appointment online today to learn more about robotic surgery.