UNC Computer and Robotic Enhanced Surgery Center (CARES)
The UNC Computer and Robotic Enhanced Surgery (CARES) Center is a multidisciplinary center comprised of physicians from a variety of surgical subspecialties who have come together to create one of the leading robotics programs in the Southeast.
Center faculty use the da Vinci robotic surgery system - a three dimensional endoscope-based robot with four articulating instrument arms. As the surgeon operates, robotic and computer technologies scale, filter and seamlessly translate the surgeon's hand movements into precise micro-movements of the da Vinci instruments.
Since the center’s creation in 2005, its faculty have been involved in over 2000 successful robotic surgical cases. This summer, both of the center's current da Vinci systems will be replaced with new ones and an additional training console will be added.
Above photo shows Dr. John Boggess, of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology (top left), and Dr. Eric Wallen, of the Division of Urologic Surgery (bottom left) with the da Vinci system in the background.
New Developments in Robotics at UNC
Drs. Weissler, Hackman and Zanation of UNC's Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery use a minimally invasive transoral (through the mouth) approach to resect tumors of the head and neck. In appropriate cases, robotics are now being applied to assist in such surgeries.
This year Dr. Zanation, Director of the UNC Head and Neck Robotics Program, began utilizing robotics to treat selected cases of cancer of the larynx, pharynx, oral cavity and skull base via the transoral route. The robotic assistance improves the surgeon's visualization and dissection abilities and decreases the patient's healing time. UNC is the only center in North Carolina to offer minimally invasive robotic head and neck surgery.
"This is truly the wedding of technology and surgery at its best," said Dr. Weissler, Chief of the Division of Head and Neck Oncology. "Traditional surgery for such tumors often requires a tracheotomy and a lengthy post-operative rehabilitiation, but using robotics allows surgeons to approach these cases with equal efficacy and decreased limitations."
Future research plans involve expanding robotic indications for skull base surgery and merging other technologies with the robotic interface.
Above photo shows Dr. Zanation (on right) and chief resident Dr. Keith Ladner (on left) with the da Vinci system in the background.
UNC's Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery also began implementing robotic surgery this year.
Drs. Mark Koruda and Christopher Rupp provide robotic surgery for a variety of benign and malignant diseases.
Most current robotic gastrointestinal surgery cases involve cancers of the pancreas, liver, bile duct, and stomach as well as colorectal cancer. Robotic surgery is also often used in cases that involve adrenal masses. Major procedures currently provided using robotics include liver and pancreatic resections, bile duct excision and reconstruction, partial gastrectomy, adrenalectomy, and proctocolectomy.
"We have already seen several benefits for patients - markedly reduced blood loss, smaller incisions, and less recovery time," said Dr. Rupp. "Complex hepatobilary and gastrointestinal reconstructions, which were not possible laparoscopically, are now technically possible with the robotic platform."
Future plans include offering pancreaticoduodenectomy (the Whipple procedure) on a selected basis.