Robotic Surgery

Minimally invasive surgery close to home

So you can heal quickly and get back to the people you enjoy most

Recognized as a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), Adventist Health Simi Valley offers the most effective, least invasive surgical treatments available. This accreditation signals that our hospital is among the best in this specialty and is acknowledged for providing the highest quality of care and patient safety.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition that may require surgery, you owe it to yourself to learn about all your medical options. Our program is led by world-class surgeons and offers theversatile da Vinci Surgical System,ExcelsiusGPSfor spine surgeries, andMako Robotic-Assisted Systemfor total knee or hip replacements.

Our robotic surgery program provides surgeons with alternatives to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, putting a surgeon's hands at the controls of state-of-the-art robotic platforms, enabling surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision.

Call(805) 955-6330to schedule a consultation.

The benefits of minimally invasive surgery:

• Significantly less pain
• Less need for pain medications
• Less blood loss
• Less scarring
• Shorter hospital stay
• Shorter recovery time
• A faster return to daily activities
• Better clinical outcomes

Many conditions can be treated using robotic-assisted surgery, including:

• Gallbladder disease
• Gynecologic conditions
• Bariatric Surgery
• Pancreatic disease
• Prostate conditions
• Stomach cancer
• Knee and hip replacement
• Spine surgery

Explore the latest technology

Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Bariatric, Gastrointestinal, General, Gynecological, Hernia and Urological Procedures.

The da Vinci Xi Surgical System brings the most advanced robotic technology to patients and physicians in the area. Many of the minimally invasive procedures allow patients to have their procedure done, then comfortably recover at home the same day. This results in less post-surgical pain, shorter hospital stays and faster return to normal daily activities. Versatile for procedures as wide-ranging as gallbladder, kidney stones, and overactive bladder issues to infertility and cancer treatment. Our system also includes dual viewing consoles for surgeons interested in training with Robotic Surgery Medical Director and Master Surgeon Dr. Andrea Pakula, with a direct view of what the surgeon is seeing.

Although the da Vinci is referred to as a “robot,” the system is not autonomous. It does not perform surgery, and the surgeon is always in complete control of the instruments. With the surgeon sitting at a console just a few feet from the patient, the da Vinci system translates the surgeon’s hand movements into corresponding micro-movements of the surgical instruments. This system enables physicians to perform delicate and complex operations through tiny incisions with enhanced dexterity and control.

"We have the da Vinci Xi, and the da Vinci 5 at Adventist Health Simi Valley. The da Vinci 5 robot was one of only 10 in the world when it was initially rolled out by Intuitive, and our robotic surgeon Dr. Andrea Pakula, was the first surgeon in the world to do a case on the robot. Surgeons from around the country who are in fellowship programs come to here to watch her operate" says Vivienne Kaplan.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Spine Procedures

The ExcelsiusGPS is the next revolution in robotic spine surgery in the development of spinal and orthopedic implants and surgical instruments for patients with spine disorders. ExcelsiusGPS is designed to improve accuracy and optimize patient care by using robotics and navigation, much like a GPS in your car.

On the day of surgery medical images are taken and imported into ExcelsiusGPS. The surgeon uses these images to determine the size and placement of implants and creates a patient plan based on your anatomy. This is used to guide the rigid robotic arm to a specific region of your spine, similar to a planned route or pathway on a GPS. The surgeon uses this pathway or route to accurately place the implants using instruments.

Throughout the procedure, the surgical instruments and implants are continuously displayed on the screen for the surgeon and staff to monitor. This display allows the surgeon to view live feedback during your procedure for more precise implant placement.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Knee and Hip Joint Replacement

The Mako combines advanced robotic technology which enables surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased accuracy.

Total knee replacements in the United States are expected to increase significantly in the upcoming years, and studies have shown that approximately 30 percent of patients are dissatisfied after conventional surgery. Through CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, our surgeons can now use the Mako System to create a personalized surgical plan based on a patient’s unique anatomy and to virtually modify the surgical plan intra-operatively as needed.

“Mako is changing the way joint replacement surgeries are performed by providing each patient with a personalized surgical experience based on their specific diagnosis and anatomy”, said Dr. Andrea Pakula, Medical Director of Robotic Surgery at Adventist Health Simi Valley. “Our Orthopedic surgical team has information at their fingertips that they’ve never had access to before.” The Mako System is the first and only robotic technology that can be used across joint replacements to perform total knee, total hip and partial knee replacements.

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