Robotic Surgery Now Available at Fairview and Hillcrest Hospitals

Robotic surgery is an innovative and minimally-invasive approach that only a handful of hospitals nationwide are performing. This approach can offer many benefits to patients including less pain, discomfort and recovery time than traditional surgery. Fairview and Hillcrest hospitals recently became the first Cleveland Clinic regional hospitals to perform robotic surgeries. 

“Many surgical procedures performed today using standard laparoscopic technique may be performed more quickly and easily using robotic surgery,” says Michael Gong, MD, Ph.D., Cleveland Clinic urologist at Hillcrest Hospital, who performed the first robotic surgery in an Eastside community hospital. “Also, patients may experience benefits such as reduced trauma to the body, reduced blood loss and need for transfusions, less post-operative pain and discomfort, less risk of infection, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and return to normal daily activities, and less scarring and improved cosmetic outcome.”

Using the robotic system, the surgeon operates while seated at a console viewing a 3D image of the surgical field. The surgeon's fingers grasp the master controls with hands and wrists. The system seamlessly translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time movements of surgical instruments inside the patient. Many surgeons at Fairview and Hillcrest are trained and greatly experienced to use robotic capabilities to operate on both urological and gynecological conditions, including cancer, with plans to expand to other specialties.

"For women facing the diagnosis of cancer and those facing the prospect of a complete hysterectomy, the robotic surgery option offers them the benefits of tiny incisions with less pain to get them back to life faster,” says Richard Drake, MD, Cleveland Clinic obstetrics and gynecology oncologist at Fairview Hospital. 

The hospitals joined Cleveland Clinic in becoming leaders in the region offering robotic surgery. From as far west as Toledo and as far east as Youngstown, robotic surgery is now easily accessible to anyone in Northeast Ohio.

To make an appointment, patients and physician offices can call 866-733-6363.