Advanced Robotic Surgery
Dr. Baker Henson is highly trained in advanced robotic-assisted surgery utilizing the state-of-the-art Da Vinci Surgical System. This technology allows him to perform complex operations through incisions roughly the size of a dime, offering a safer, less painful alternative to traditional open surgery.
Myth vs. Fact: Who is doing the surgery?
Myth: The robot performs the surgery on its own.
Fact: The robot is completely entirely controlled by Dr. Henson. It cannot make a single movement without his direct command. Think of it as a highly advanced extension of his own hands and eyes.
How Robotic Surgery Works
During a robotic procedure, Dr. Henson sits at a specialized console located right next to you in the operating room. From this console, he controls miniature, wristed instruments equipped with a high-definition 3D camera.
- 3D High-Definition Vision: The camera provides a highly magnified, crystal-clear view of the surgical area, allowing Dr. Henson to see nerves and blood vessels with far greater detail than the human eye alone.
- Wristed Instruments: Unlike traditional stiff laparoscopic tools, the robotic instruments bend and rotate far beyond the capabilities of the human hand. This allows for incredibly precise suturing and tissue manipulation in very tight spaces within the abdomen.
- Tremor Filtration: The system seamlessly translates Dr. Henson's hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of the instruments, filtering out even the slightest natural hand tremor.
The Benefits to You (The Patient)
Because robotic surgery requires only a few tiny keyhole incisions rather than a large, open cut, the benefits to your recovery are significant:
- Less Post-Operative Pain: Smaller incisions mean less trauma to your muscle wall, drastically reducing the need for narcotic pain medications after surgery.
- Faster Recovery: Many robotic procedures (like hernia and gallbladder surgeries) are done on an outpatient basis, meaning you go home the same day. Even major surgeries like colon resections result in much shorter hospital stays.
- Quicker Return to Normal Life: You can typically return to work, your family, and your daily activities weeks sooner than with traditional open surgery.
- Minimal Scarring: The dime-sized incisions often heal into faint, barely noticeable marks.
- Reduced Risk of Complications: Smaller incisions mean a lower risk of surgical site infections and post-operative hernias.
Procedures Performed Robotically
Dr. Henson uses the robotic platform for a wide variety of general and bariatric procedures, including:
- Bariatric Surgery: Sleeve Gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.
- Hernia Repair: Complex Ventral, Incisional, Umbilical, Inguinal, and Hiatal hernias.
- Colorectal Surgery: Colon resections for diverticulitis and colon cancer.
- General Surgery: Gallbladder removal (Cholecystectomy) and severe acid reflux treatments.