Despite the fact that the “Da Vinci” system is massively entering the operation practice abroad, as well as in our country, people still know too little about this type of operation. I will try to answer the questions that patients ask me most often. What is the da Vinci robot? The Da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical system created by an American company. It is designed to facilitate surgery by using a minimally invasive approach and is controlled by a surgeon from a console. The system is primarily used for gynecological surgery, often also for prostatectomies or increasingly for heart valve repair. Why is it called “Da Vinci”? The makers named the system so because “Leonardo da Vinci’s study of human anatomy ultimately led to the design of the first known robot in history.” Is it spread around the world? I hear this question very often. Well, I’ll give you a specific answer – according to the World Health Organization, as of September 30, 2016, there is a global installed base of 3,803 units – 2,501 in the United States, 644 in Europe, 476 in Asia, and 182 in the rest of the world . As of the end of 2012, more than 200,000 operations had been performed with the system, most commonly hysterectomies or prostate removals. There are three such robots in Bulgaria, two in Pleven and one in Sofia at Doverie Hospital, where I operate. What exactly is a da Vinci robot? In layman’s terms, the robot consists of a surgeon-controlled console, often mistakenly called a “joystick.” There is some similarity, but the correct name is console. She can be in the same room as the patient or in a different one. The other part of the robot is the interactive robotic arms controlled by the console. These hands hold the instruments and can serve as scalpels, scissors, or whatever is needed for the operation. The design of the robotic arms is made to exceed the natural range of motion of the human wrist, and the robot’s movements have a much greater range. How is it different from traditional surgeries? With the robot, laparoscopic, or as they are known, bloodless operations are performed, which are performed through very small openings – from 5 to 10 mm. The difference with traditional laparoscopic operations is that between the patient and the surgeon stands the “Da Vinci” robot, which in turn controls the instruments and to some extent the course of the operation. It protects the patient from accidental mistakes, hand tremors and further refines the surgeon’s movements. The da Vinci robot incorporates numerous safety features designed to minimize opportunities for human error compared to traditional approaches. This prevents the occurrence of complications, gives greater security for the patient. The instrumentation, which is special to the robot, is held by it and controlled by it, but the course of the operation and what exactly needs to be done is decided by the surgeon. With the robot, operations become more precise,and in many cases faster. NEWS_MORE_BOX The robot was developed to improve conventional laparoscopy, where the surgeon works while standing and uses long instruments that do not have “wrists”. In conventional laparoscopy, the surgeon must look up and away from the instruments to a nearby 2D video monitor to see the operative field. He also has to rely on an assistant to position the camera correctly. The da Vinci robot allows the surgeon to work from a seated position with the eyes and hands positioned in line with the instruments. What are the benefits for the patient? The most important thing is that the operations are performed extremely precisely. This is the difference from ordinary laparoscopic operations, because it is operated under a magnification that is tenfold. All this helps to make the trauma inflicted on the patients much less. Many of my patients say that they have no pain after the operation. The operative intervention is carried out so precisely that they do not need depolizers after the operation. Is the operation performed under general anesthesia? Yes, the patient is under general anesthesia. How long does it take for a patient to recover after surgery? It depends on the type of intervention. In the case of lighter interventions, recovery takes a few days. Because it is a minimally invasive surgery and there are no large incisions, recovery is much faster. Where did you study? I have several specializations – practical course in robotic surgery in robotic gynecology – University Hospital, Milan, Italy; as well as robotic surgery – “Da Vinci” robot in Istanbul.Where did you study? I have several specializations – practical course in robotic surgery in robotic gynecology – University Hospital, Milan, Italy; as well as robotic surgery – robot “Da Vinci” in Istanbul.Where did you study? I have several specializations – practical course in robotic surgery in robot gynecology – University Hospital, Milan, Italy; as well as robotic surgery – robot “Da Vinci” in Istanbul.