Center for Robotic Head and Neck Surgery
Until recently, people with complex head and neck disorders had minimal options for surgical treatment. Traditional approaches often have left patients with visible scars, difficulty breathing or swallowing following surgery, and a lengthy recovery.
At the UPMC Center for Robotic Head and Neck Surgery, surgeons are now able to treat these complex disorders using minimally invasive robotic surgery.
Compared to other head and neck surgical approaches, minimally invasive robotic surgery can:
- significantly reduce postoperative pain
- allow for a shorter hospital stay
- enable a quicker return to normal daily activities
The robotic system we use, the da Vinci Surgical System®, features:
- a 3D image processing system
- interactive mechanical arms with joints that follow movements of the surgeon’s hands
- a camera arm that allows the surgeon to see a high definition and magnified view of the procedure
Similar to other minimally invasive procedures, the da Vinci Surgical System requires only minor incisions instead of large ones commonly used in traditional surgery.