Robotic Surgery

The University Of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System at Chicago has one of the country's most advanced centers for minimally invasive surgery. Robotic assisted surgery eliminates the need for large incisions that add to recovery time. Robotic assisted surgery allows the surgeon to view the surgical area in complete detail allowing him to work precisely while naturally moving the instruments.

Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure for conditions that go beyond medication and non-surgical treatments. The robots are handled with the assistance of some of the world's most highly skilled surgeons. Since the surgeons are seated comfortably, with a perfect view of the surgical field, there is reduced risk of fatigue and greater accuracy compared with conventional surgery. With only a few small incisions and minimally scarring, robotic surgery offers quicker recovery time, reduced post- operative pain and reduced risk complications and infections. Minimally invasive robotic surgery procedures use the most advanced techniques and equipment available.

Advantages of Robotic Surgery:

  • With a smaller incision there is less chance of infection, as well as minimal scarring and reduced post-operative pain.
  • Surgeons ability to precisely make incisions reduces blood loss and the need for blood transfusions.
  • Less invasive incisions allow the body to recover quicker without infections or complications.
  • Earlier recovery time allows patients resume normal activities within a week compared to more than 6 weeks with traditional surgery.
  • Patients are also able to receive complementary treatment like chemotherapy or radiotherapy quickly.
Our Services

As a premier medical research institution, the University Of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System has performed hundreds of surgeries with the assistance of robots. In addition to the prostate surgery and women's gynecological surgeries, our expert team performs robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery of the pancreas, lung, esophagus, colon, stomach, liver, gall bladder and kidney, including the removal of cancerous tumors of the lung and pancreas.

What is da Vinci?

The da Vinci is the surgical system used to perform robotic-assisted surgery. It is comprised of 3 parts:

  • a surgeon's console, where the surgeon sits and operates the robot through glove-like sensors, rather than standing for hours with their arms raised above the patient
  • a patient-side robotic cart with 4 arms manipulated by the surgeon, which is able to cut, sew and remove tissue with incredible precision
  • a high-definition 3-D vision system magnifies the view of the surgical field

    • During the surgery, da Vinci translates the surgeon's movements into precise micro-movements that even reduce a surgeon's minute tremors. With the superior vision and precise movements, da Vinci allows highly skilled surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures. 

    Our Team

    Only a handful of surgeons have mastered the advanced robotics technique. Our robotic surgery team is lead by Dr. Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti, chief of the University Of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System's Division of General, Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery. Not only is the University Of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System the nation's leading practitioner of robotic surgery, Dr. Giulianotti is also a world renown expert in this field.

    Among Dr. Giulianotti's many accomplishments, he is the first surgeon to perform a robotic whipple. This complex procedure for the treatment of pancreatic cancer generally requires a large incision, but with the use of robotic surgery only a minimally invasive incision is needed. Dr. Giulianotti remains one of the few surgeons in the world capable of the robotic whipple procedure.

    Among our other notable achievements:

    • UI Hospital surgeons were the first in the world to use robotic-assisted surgery to remove a kidney and pancreas from a living donor as part of a successful transplantation.
    • UI Hospital surgeons were the first in the nation to use robotic-assisted surgery to repair a renal arterial aneurysm.
    • UI Hospital surgeons performed the state's first robotic lobectomy - the only curative option for early-stage lung cancer.
    Our Locations

    University Of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System at Chicago
    Division of General Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery
    840 S. Wood St., Mail Code 958,  Suite 435E
    Chicago, IL 60612

    For more information on Robotic Surgery, please call: 312.355.1493

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