Robotic Surgery Specialist
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Gary Harvey, MD
Urogynecologist located in Missoula, MT
Urogynecologist and certified robotic surgeon Gary Harvey, MD, has performed more than 800 robotic surgeries throughout the course of his career. Patients travel from far away to visit his practice in Missoula, Montana, for minimally invasive surgical treatment of issues such as pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. He’s trained in the most advanced techniques, including robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy with the da Vinci® Surgical System. To discover the benefits of minimally invasive robotic surgery, call the office or book an appointment online today.
Robotic Surgery/ da Vinci Surgery Q & A
What is robotic surgery?
When talking about robotic surgery, it’s important to understand that the robot does not perform the procedure. Robot-assisted surgery is a more accurate term because Dr. Harvey is in complete control throughout the entire procedure.
Dr. Harvey has extensive experience performing minimally invasive, robot-assisted gynecologic procedures with the da Vinci. This leading system in robotic surgery features a camera arm and separate mechanical arms with surgical instruments attached.
The da Vinci system’s camera provides Dr. Harvey with a magnified, 3D, high-definition view of your pelvic organs as he operates the mechanical arms from a terminal in the surgical suite. The robotic instruments bend and rotate beyond the capacity of a human hand, which offers greater precision and control than can be accomplished with traditional surgery.
What procedures can the da Vinci robot assist with?
Minimally invasive surgery with the da Vinci robotic system may be necessary if you have a gynecologic condition that doesn’t improve with nonsurgical treatment. Dr. Harvey uses the da Vinci to perform procedures such as:
- Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
- Myomectomy (removal of uterine fibroids)
- Sacrocolpopexy surgery for pelvic prolapse
- Bladder support reconstruction
- Ovarian surgery
He may also use the da Vinci system to assist with an endometriosis resection, which removes displaced endometrial tissue while leaving the uterus intact.
What are the benefits of robotic surgery?
Robotic surgery is minimally invasive, which means it requires much smaller incisions than traditional, open surgery. While open surgery uses an incision that may be several inches long across your abdomen, robotic surgery only needs a few, buttonhole-sized incisions.
This means that Dr. Harvey can perform complex procedures with a clear view of your organs while doing the least amount of damage to healthy tissues. Minimal damage to healthy tissues provides numerous benefits, including:
- Reduced risk of complications, such as infection
- Less pain and blood loss
- Fewer noticeable scars
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster recovery and return to normal function
Dr. Harvey performs minimally invasive procedures whenever possible,. In fact most procedures once only performed open can now be done safely thru Robotics. but not everyone is a good candidate. In some cases, open surgery may still be the safest and most effective procedure.
To find out if minimally invasive robotic surgery is right for you, call the office of Gary Harvey, MD, or book an appointment online today.
