Robotic Surgery

[gatormanade]

Hey, I was wondering how many applicants have experience in research on robotic surgery and the da Vinci Surgical robot? I have a background in robotics from my years in business and have been working with a team of surgeons on some projects for the da Vinci. Is this considered a unique EC, or since the technology is so widely available now to most hospitals, is it just another standard research gig in a hospital?

Are any schools more interested in robotic medicine, let me know so I can apply to them 🙂

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[drizzt3117]

I'm pretty sure this isn't a common EC, and you should definitely mention it on your application. Robotics is more emphasized in surgical residencies than in general med school education, though. Urology is one of the fields that uses robotics a lot, and certain schools really like laproscopy and robotics in their u, but I'm not sure this is going to make as much of a difference while applying to their med school. That said, it's still a nice and interesting EC and you should definitely include it, maybe in your PS as well.

 

[gatormanade]

I think you are right, dont know how much it matters for med schools, shame I cant just apply for residency and skip this whole med school thing

 

[xcel]

I totally want to do robotic surgery with the da Vinci system, but I'm not sure which specialties use it the most and which universities or hospitals use them. do you have any info on that? otherwise I'm going into EM.

 

[bwonger06]

I totally want to do robotic surgery with the da Vinci system, but I'm not sure which specialties use it the most and which universities or hospitals use them. do you have any info on that? otherwise I'm going into EM.

to my knowledge, da vinci is used mostly on prostate surgeries.

 

[gatormanade]

I totally want to do robotic surgery with the da Vinci system, but I'm not sure which specialties use it the most and which universities or hospitals use them. do you have any info on that? otherwise I'm going into EM.

Right now it is mostly used on prostate surgeries, however in the lab I work on they are using it for some lower GI procedures as well. I have heard that up at UCLA they are using it on open heart procedures, and I know through my research that they are beginning to use it on ENT procedures (mostly on the thyroid). And I heard that a plastic surgeon wants to use it on rhinoplasties and breast aug's, but that isnt confirmed. I am positive that in 10 years robotic surgery will be used on most fields however.

 

[Dr JPH]

http://www.mainlinehealth.org/article_13704.asp

Francis Sutter, D.O. is one of only a handul of docs in the US using this for coronary bypass procedures.

Its a great tool but with a significant learning curve. I think like most MIS there needs to be a well documented benefit to the patient and the overall cost of care before these machines become commonplace.