da Vinci & the University of Nebraska Medical Center

UNMC/Nebraska Medical Center was one of the early sites in the United States to acquire the da Vinci" Surgical System manufactured by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. This system uses technology that provides the surgeon with the intuitive control, range of motion, fine tissue manipulation capability and 3-D visualization while the surgical instruments are inserted through the small ports characteristic of minimally invasive surgery. Da Vinci is a computer enhanced surgical system which interposes a computer between the surgeons hands and the tips of micro instruments. The system replicates the surgeons movements in real time.

So far, surgeons practicing in cardio-thoracic, urological, transplantation, gynecological, and general surgery have been trained in Nebraska on the system. Specialized training has also been developed for operating room nurses on the technology. A wide range of procedures has been performed with the equipment including morbid obesity surgery (pancreatic biliary diversions), gynecological procedures (ovarian transposition, lymph node dissections), splenectomy, adrenalectomy, bowel resections, hernia repairs, and internal mammary artery takedowns.
Major new procedure development is underway in general surgery and vascular surgery. Our surgeons are using the technology to convert procedures previously done in open surgery to minimally invasive surgery using computer enhanced technology:
Vascular Surgery Minimally invasive procedures in vascular surgery are technically demanding and offer major benefits to the patient. Computer assisted bi-femoral aortic bypasses are under development at UNMC/NHS.
General Surgery Transgastric esophageal mucosal stripping a procedure for patients with Barretts disease
Morbid Obesity UNMC/NHS is the leading center to offer totally intracorporeal pancreatic biliary diversions using the da Vinci Surgical System.