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Published: April 9th, 2012
The da Vinci Surgical System has been linked to a number of complications and patient deaths, which may have been caused by surgical mistakes from insufficient training or by the machine’s design.
STATUS OF DA VINCI SURGICAL SYSTEM LAWSUITS: Potential claims are being reviewed by lawyers for individuals who have been injured or lost loved ones due to problems following robotic surgery with the Da Vinci Surgical System.
>>SUBMIT INFO ABOUT DA VINCI SURGICAL ROBOT PROBLEMS<<
MANUFACTURER: Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
OVERVIEW: The da Vinci Surgical System was approved by the FDA in 2000 for use in urologic, laparoscopic, gynecologic and non-cardiovascular thoracoscopic surgical procedures and thoracoscopically assisted cardiotomy procedures.
The surgical robot has four arms, three for holding surgical instruments including scalpels and electrocautery instruments, and a fourth with an endoscopic camera. It is controlled by a surgeon looking through an imaging device at a 3-D image of the surgical area. The surgeon controls the robot with foot pedals and hand controllers.
According to the company’s website, the robot has been used in procedures to treat a number of cancers, including bladder cancer, colorectal cancer, gynecologic cancer, kidney cancer, prostate, cancer, and throat cancer. They are also marketing the device for use in procedures for coronary artery disease, endometriosis, heavy uterine bleeding, kidney disorders, obesity, and other problems that can be corrected with surgery. The company describes the use of the da Vinci as a “new category of minimally invasive surgery.”
DA VINCI SURGICAL MISTAKES: There are growing reports that the da Vinci Surgical System is prone to a number of surgical mistakes, potentially linked to the use of its all-metal surgical arms. Some say that the arms conduct electricity from the robot’s electrocautery instruments, which can then arc and burn arteries and vital organs in unintended locations. The robot could also tear internal organs by accident, some say.
Often, the da Vinci robot tears and burns are not apparent during or immediately after surgery, which could result in delayed treatment for internal injuries and death. Tears and burns to blood vessels, intestines and reproductive organs are the most commonly reported complications.
There are also concerns that surgeons have not been properly trained to use the device. It employs hand controls and foot pedals which the surgeon must use to guide the multi-armed robot in precision operations while looking through eye holes at a 3-D image created by stereo cameras. Some experts are concerned that the videogame-like interface is so far removed from normal surgical operations that it requires far more intensive and specialized training than Intuitive Surgery, Inc. has provided.
DA VINCI ROBOT COMPLICATIONS: The complications and reports of injuries and deaths has led some experts to question whether the benefits of the device are outweighed by the risks. There are also concerns that da Vinci surgical procedures are more expensive than traditional surgery with no extra benefits. The machine costs $2 million plus heavy annual maintenance costs.
A study published in January 2012 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that women treated for endometrial cancer had about the same complication rates through traditional laparoscopy as they did following a da Vinci surgery. However, using the da Vinci cost about $1,300 more.
As a result of a defective design and poor surgical training, patients may have suffered injuries or death due to a robotic surgical procedure that is more expensive and may have no benefit over traditional surgery. A number of individuals throughout the United States are now pursuing compensation through a da Vinci Surgical System lawsuit as a result of the manufacturer’s failure to properly design and test the device and the skills needed to operate it.
Photo courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Nimur / CC by 3.0
Comment by Kathleen on 19 August 2012:
My sisters mother in law died when the DA VINCI ROBOT ARM slipped during surgery and ripped her aorta out causing her to bleed to death! The doctor and hospital conspired to cover up the mistake and she was not able to get an attorney to take the case. She is willing to hire an attorney to take the case and one may contact my email for her address and phone number.
Comment by Patricia on 1 February 2013:
Had complications after surgery… in bed for three months with internal bleeding.My doctor ignored my calls!! I tried to hire an attorney but was not able have them take my case.
Comment by Kimberly on 1 February 2013:
i understand how you feel .. i was stuck in bed FOREVER… Heck my kids were more worried than anyone eles.. They wanted their mom., and i could not PERFORM…. weird..
Comment by Diane on 5 March 2013:
Just had a robotic hysterectomy a week ago. Was told one night in hospital and quick recovery time. Hematoma occurred the next day. Spent 3 nights/4 days in hospital. Had to have blood transfusion. Severe pain. Unable to return to work. Is this something that normally occurs with this surgery?
Comment by John on 16 March 2013:
People need to understand that there are complications with any surgery and risks as well with any instrumentation. Everyone’s stories are no different from open surgery or lap surgery. The general public needs to understand the potential complications w/ all surgies and although are unfortunate they can happen.
Comment by Carlette on 21 March 2013:
Well it has been 8 months now and I am still in terrible pain in the left side, Every time I called Doc, no reply.I was stuck in bed for 3-4 months before I could walk alone, I am disabled already. He was suppose to take it all and left my ovaries and tubes,I hardly sleep from the pain waking me up. I have lost 40 lbs and I was down to 102 and now I am 113. I know there are chances with all surgeries, but come on 8+ months and still having problems other than the pain. Some days I am fine the next crying the next dont talk to me, now I am going into menopause when he told me I wouldn’t. I have gotten another OBGYN and he has been running test for 2-3 weeks now and said something is wrong, I said it was not wrong before this surgery. I have no love life, mood swings fro hell, sweats like a man, and I could go on and on! Why do they use people for test dummies on medical equipment! Ifwe was not messed up before we will be if the equipment is faulty or someone running it that doesn’t know excatly what they are doing.Everyone else wants help about this and that, how about put me back like I was or fix me one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Judy on 10 May 2013:
The sad part of this whole situation is that there is no clinical evidence that this technology provides improved outcomes for the majority of the procedures it is used on. With the hysterectomy you can have this procedure carried out in minimally invasive method, without the robot and obtain wonderful outcomes. The use of this product is just around marketing and attempting to provide more profit for the Manufacturer and the shareholders in this company. The use of this device on procedures where it does not provide improved outcome or the same outcome with lower cost should be stopped. All potential patients need to ask for the comparative effectiveness data on this and make sure you get unbiased studies that are not funded by the manufacturer. This should be part of the informed consent process, giving you all alternatives. for your procedure, along with the cost. With this robot we are paying more for these procedures and not receiving value. V= Q/C. There is a lack of quality improvement with the DaVinci and absolutely it cannot be done at a lower cost. Any way you look at this it should be a loser, so ask the question, what is keeping ithe DaVinci at the hospitals and is it at the patients peril? Also you may want to ask if your provider of care has stock in Intuitive…..