Patients at Carolinas Medical Center now have access to the latest advancement in minimally invasive surgery – a new tool that significantly reduces the size of incisions to perform heart, prostate and a number of abdominal surgeries.

According to doctors, the smaller incisions mean shorter, less painful post-operative recovery time.

The robot will extend the less invasive options available to patients for cardiac surgery, according to cardiac surgeon Eric Skipper. "The robot complements the ongoing minimally invasive cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery program at Carolinas Heart Institute," he said.

The da Vinci surgical system itself is a large console, controlled by the surgeon, with three interactive robotic arms, specialized surgical instrumentation, and a high-performance video system. The video system provides surgeons with a highly magnified, three-dimensional view of a patient's interior, while the surgical instrumentation allows for improved precision and manipulation in tight spaces.

The device uses three interactive robotic arms.

The robot was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for heart valve surgery fewer than two years ago, after the completion of clinical trials in 10 medical centers nationwide. Cardiac surgeons at East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine took a lead role in the trials, which evaluated results from well over 100 valve surgeries performed using the new technology.

The initial trials evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the robotic-assisted technique, in comparison with traditional open-chest procedures, in repairing defective mitral valves.

The robots are still relatively rare on a national basis, averaging only about three per state.

"Robotic technology lends itself well not only to mitral valve repair, but to radical prostatectomy, or total removal of the male prostate gland," said Stephen Moore, the chief medical officer at CMC. "This is an important application, because more than 200,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year."

Da Vinci can also be used for many other procedures – such as coronary bypass surgery, and throat, vascular, gynecological and intestinal surgeries.

The key to success with highly sophisticated devices like da Vinci is having the proper training and experience, doctors say. And Carolinas Medical Center says it has developed an international reputation for research and clinical applications of minimally invasive surgery. Some 1,300 surgeons from throughout the United States and several foreign countries have visited CMC during the past six years to receive training, participate in fellowships, and study research results.

The video system provides surgeons with a highly magnified, three-dimensional view of a patient's interior.

Two surgical teams worked closely with counterparts at East Carolina University who helped to pioneer the technology. The Carolinas Heart Institute team is headed by Skipper. The urological team is headed by Dr. Chris Teigland, of McKay Urology.

Skipper said the clinical benefits of minimally invasive surgery are well documented. Patient benefits include: reduced length of stay; reduced blood loss and need for transfusion; less post-operative pain and discomfort; less risk of infection; faster recovery time; and faster return to work or normal function.

"The addition of the da Vinci system broadens the minimally invasive options to patients in the region," he said.