Pediatric Robotic Surgery
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital became the first pediatric hospital in Florida to acquire the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System, which can be used across a spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures, including general pediatric, abdominal, colorectal, kidney, single-incision, thoracic and urologic surgery.
The da Vinci® Xi™ system offers a three-dimensional high-definition (3D-HD) vision system, special instruments and computer software that allow surgeons to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control. The da Vinci instruments have mechanical wrists that bend and rotate to mimic the movement of the human wrist. Physicians in the Department of Pediatric Surgery (Division of Urology) include several who are among the most experienced in the region in performing robotic surgery.
For patients in need of gallbladder, ovarian, and renal surgery, a minimally-invasive option is available thanks robotic single-site incision options. Patients undergo visibly no scarring through this method, which is performed through a small incision hidden within the patients’ navel.
Benefits generally associated with da Vinci surgery include:
- Shorter hospital stay
- Reduced blood loss
- Reduced complications
- Reduced need for narcotic pain medicine
- Faster recovery
- Reduced scarring
Treatments and Procedures
Specialized Offerings in Robotics
A pediatric patient at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is the first in the U.S. to undergo robotic surgery for renal pelvis reconstruction through a single site incision. Pediatric urologists Dr. Miguel Castellan, Dr. Maurilio Garcia-Maldonado and Dr. Paulo Moscardi used The daVinci® Xi™ Surgical System to perform pyleoplasty surgery through a single site incision in order to reconstruct the child’s renal pelvis and remove an obstruction.
Dr. Ibrahim Amjad, pediatric plastic surgeon, performed the first robotic assisted endoscopic surgery in a child born with an extensive teratoma of naso-oropharyngeal orbital region, a tumor located at the skull base. The surgery, which took place in November 2017, was performed using the daVinci Xi robotic system proctored by Dr. Fuad Alkhoury, pediatric surgeon. This procedure marks the first time a head and neck tumor was successfully removed in a child using the intraoperative robotic surgical system. Using the robot minimized trauma to the patient and provided visualization in high definition, allowing for new views of the surgical site. This novel use of the robotics system created unprecedented access to the location of the tumor permitting precise resection. (Picture from left to right: Dr. Fuad Alkhoury and Dr. Ibrahim Amjad)