Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) recently welcomed the media and others for a sneak peek at one of our Hospital’s newest technological additions.
The da Vinci Surgical System is a state-of-the-art robotic platform that helps perform less invasive surgeries. It allows surgeons to conduct complex operations through small incisions with enhanced precision and control.
This technology marks a significant step forward for our program, providing residents and faculty with advanced tools to perform minimally invasive surgeries accurately and efficiently. Notably, The da Vinci robot is the first of its kind in Northwestern Ontario and will allow patients at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) to receive even more exceptional care closer to home.
Some key benefits include:
Greater precision: The robotic system enhances visualization and dexterity, allowing meticulous nerve-sparing techniques.
Minimally invasive approach: Small incisions result in less blood loss, reduced pain, and faster recovery.
Shorter hospital stay: Most patients are discharged within 24 hours after surgery.
Faster recovery and fewer complications: Patients often experience a quicker return to daily activities and a lower risk of complications.
Da Vinci surgical systems comprise the surgeon console, patient-side cart, and vision cart. Here’s a breakdown:
Surgeon console: The surgeon console is where the surgeon sits during the procedure, controls the instruments and has a crystal-clear three dimensional, high definition view of the patient’s anatomy. The tiny instruments are “wristed” and move like a human hand but with a far greater range of motion.
Patient cart: The patient-side cart is positioned near the patient on the operating table. Here, the instruments used during the operation move in real-time in response to the surgeon’s hand movements at the surgeon console
Vision cart: The vision cart allows communication between the system’s components and provides a screen for the care team to view the operation.
Various surgical procedures can be performed using this robotic platform, including:
- Prostatectomy (prostate surgery)
- Partial and Total Nephrectomy (kidney surgery)
- Pyeloplasty (surgery to relieve kidney blockage)
- Cyst Removal (surgery to remove cyst from kidney)
- Cystectomy (bladder surgery)
- Ureteral Implantation (fix the tubes that connect the bladder to the kidneys)
The implementation of the da Vinci Surgical System and the expertise of our talented urology team further establishes TBRHSC as a leading facility in minimally invasive surgeries, ensuring that our patients receive exceptional care and the most advanced treatment options available.
The da Vinci surgical robot has an estimated purchase price of up to $2.5 million. TBRHSC utilizes it on a pay-per-procedure basis, at an operating cost of approximately $600,000 per year.
While the da Vinci Robot unit was not purchased through the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation‘s donor raised funding, money from donors (including event participation and Foundation 50/50 supporters) was instrumental in helping to establish two new minimally invasive surgery (MIS)-ready sterilization units, as well as a specialized bed designed for MIS.
The instruments used with the da Vinci Robot are longer than standard instruments and did not fit our current sterilizers. TBRHSC’s Medical Device Reprocessing Department purchased two Ultrasonic washers to sterilize the new instruments.
Additionally, donor funds helped to purchase a specialized Operating Room bed to ensure the robotic system allowed patients to be positioned in a way that allowed the surgeon to operate while maintaining control during the surgery.
