Single-site laparoscopy procedures offer several benefits to patients, but the recently cleared robotic surgical instruments for single-site surgery offers improved functionality and easier access to patients for surgeons using the da Vinci Xi, Intuitive Surgical says. 

It reports single-site surgery with its earlier set of tools paired with the da Vinci Si Surgical system became “the most prominent robotic-assisted single-port platform on the market” after it was released in 2011. It says the updated tools for the newer robot:

• Improves vision: An 8 mm endoscope offers a higher resolution view than before, and the Firefly fluorescence imaging highlights tissues like vessels and bile ducts.
• Makes set-up easier: The attachment system has been modified to make docking easier and faster.
• Improves mobility and access around the patient: The boom-mounted system has redesigned arms to provide greater range of motion.

To figure out how these changes could impact surgical teams, Surgical Products connected with Dr. Devin Garza, a surgeon with the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery and Renaissance Women’s Group Renaissance Women’s Group in Austin, Texas.

What was your first impression with the single-site instruments and technology?

Garza: The instruments are exactly the same as the da Vinci Si instrumentation, and although my concern was how difficult docking would be; it turned out that docking had essentially a zero learning curve and was very intuitive and easy.

Xi Single Site reduces some of the learning curve for this approach, the range of motion is better, and the vision is markedly improved with a wider field of view.  This platform provides an opportunity for further innovation, as there is more flexibility with docking.

How does this recently released technology enhance what the da Vinci Surgical System already provides surgeons?

Garza: Previous to this, the da Vinci Si System was the only system with Single Site one incision technology and instrumentation, now latest iteration of the da Vinci platform – Xi System- has the same capability.

How does single site surgery through the navel impact patient satisfaction?

Garza: Having done close to 150 Single Site surgeries on the Si System, I can tell you from experience that there is extremely high patient satisfaction.  The incision entry, closure and recovery are the same.