Minimally Invasive Surgery at Saint Anne's Hospital

Robotic-Assisted Surgery in Fall River, MA

At the Center for Robotic-Assisted Surgery at Saint Anne's Hospital, minimally invasive robotic technologies allow our experienced surgeons to perform a wide range of common and advanced procedures more efficiently and precisely. 

Surgeons today have more tools at their fingertips than ever before. Robotic-assisted surgery allows surgeons to perform procedures more precisely with multiple benefits for patients.

At Saint Anne's Hospital, we are leading the way in robotic-assisted surgery. Our surgeons use state-of-the-art systems designed to help perform more precise, less invasive procedures. In fact, our center in Fall River, MA, offers the region’s widest array of robotic-assisted surgeries and surgical options.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Compared to traditional surgery, minimally invasive techniques can offer numerous potential benefits for most patients.

Benefits of minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery can include:

• Faster recovery and shorter hospital stay
• Fewer stitches and less scarring
• Lower risk of complications and infections
• Less blood loss and the need for transfusions
• Quicker return to normal activities

da Vinci Minimally Invasive Surgical Option

From hernia repair and colorectal surgery to prostatectomy and hysterectomy, with the da Vinci system, our surgeons perform intricate procedures through a few small incisions and, for some procedures, a single-site incision.

Da Vinci advanced minimally invasive surgery is currently offered to patients in the following specialty areas:

• Colorectal surgery
• General surgery
• Gynecological surgery
• Urologic surgery

At Saint Anne's Hospital, our robust robotic surgery program is used for a wide variety of conditions.

Joint Replacement

Robotic surgery has revolutionized joint replacement surgery. Available for total hip replacement and partial and total knee replacement, the Mako system allows orthopedic surgeons to perform joint replacement procedures with a high degree of precision. Similarly, the ROSA Knee System for robotic knee replacement is designed to help a specially trained surgeon tailor the placement of a knee implant. It uses a series of X-rays to create a three-dimensional model of the knee anatomy. This 3D model enables the surgeon to plan the specifics of the knee replacement prior to surgery.

Since becoming the first hospital in Massachusetts to offer the Mako system in 2011 and, more recently, the ROSA knee system, Saint Anne's orthopedic surgeons have performed thousands of robotic-assisted joint replacements on its two robotic platforms.

General Surgery

For general surgical procedures, as well as a variety of specialty surgeries, the daVinci Xi robotic-assisted system gives surgeons not only a greater degree of precision but more flexibility when working in very small spaces. Some of the most common robotic-assisted procedures include hernia repair, colorectal surgery, urological surgery (including prostatectomy and kidney surgery), hysterectomy and other gynecological surgery, and bariatric surgery.

Spine Surgery

Saint Anne's became the first hospital in Massachusetts or Rhode Island in 2017 to offer the robotic-assisted Globus ExcelsiusGPS system for spine surgery. For patients with spine conditions such degenerative disk disease, fracture, or spinal stenosis, its capabilities in the hands of the neurosurgeon offer patients numerous benefits, including a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery, and faster return to doing what they love. Our spine surgery team has performed more than 1,000 robotic-assisted spine procedures since 2017.

Bariatric Surgery

At Saint Anne's Hospital, patients undergoing weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, have the benefit of the region's first robotic-assisted bariatric surgery program using the da Vinci system. With smaller incisions, bariatric patients enjoy a quicker recovery and return to normal activities more quickly than ever before.

Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Aquablation is an advanced technology that uses robotic-assisted waterjet therapy for the surgical treatment of enlarged prostate known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). By using this ultrasound-guided, robotic-assisted approach, surgeons can treat BPH in real time with lasting results.