LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The University Medical Center in Las Vegas is set to become the first hospital in Nevada to acquire the da Vinci 5 surgical robot.
Intuitive Surgical is rolling out the da Vinci 5 in phases, with plans for continued releases through 2025. This week, UMC will perform its first surgery using the innovative robotic system.
“The benefit of da Vinci 5 for the patient is that we send them home sooner, they have smaller incisions, and they require less narcotic pain control, so the recovery is sooner,” Dr. Carmen Flores, UMC medical director of surgical services, said.
Dr. Flores noted that in traditional surgeries, healthcare workers must operate from a distance to maintain a sterile field, which can lead to increased tissue trauma. The robotic system allows for more precise movements closer to the patient and in return, patients can heal quicker and return to their daily normal lives.
The robotic system also includes a force feedback mechanism that allows healthcare professionals to sense the push and pull of the instruments during surgery, enabling surgeons to feel the pressure they apply to the patient’s tissue.