Caring for Kids: Children's Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital
Caring for Kids: Children's Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital

There's a Robot in the House!

Robotic-Assisted Surgery Isn't Just for Adults

da Vinci Surgical SystemA local 3-year-old girl had an uncommon urological condition that made her feel a little bit different from her friends. One of her kidneys had two tubes (ureters) to carry urine from the kidney to the bladder, instead of one. The second tube bypassed her body's natural control mechanisms and constantly dripped urine. The little girl had to wear diapers and couldn't potty train like other kids her age.

Invasive open surgery would have required a large, 4-inch incision. Luckily, that wasn't her only option. In May, this little girl became the first child in Nevada to undergo robotic-assisted surgery.

Waldo Feng, MD, PhD, a pediatric urologist, used the innovative da Vinci® Surgical System to perform her procedure at the Children's Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital. The hospital is now one of only a handful of facilities nationwide that offers pediatric robotic-assisted surgery.

The Children's Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital now offers robotic-assisted surgery, thanks to the da Vinci® Surgical System.
The Children's Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital now offers robotic-assisted surgery, thanks to the da Vinci® Surgical System.
During the little girl's surgery, Dr. Feng created three dime-sized ports that allowed him to access a very small area, about the size of a quarter, deep inside the girl's abdomen. Then, he used the robotic arms and tiny instruments to cut one end of her extra tube and connect it to her healthy one.

"Surgeons control the robot throughout procedures, but the robot gives us greater precision and dexterity," Dr. Feng said. "We can perform the same type of surgeries we do during open procedures without making any compromises to use minimally invasive techniques. And patients have smaller scars, less pain after surgery and quicker recoveries."

The little girl's condition improved right away. She was able to give up diapers and wear "big girl pants."

And a few days after her surgery, she attended a pool party -- wearing a regular bathing suit for the first time ever.

da Vinci Surgerical SystemA Robot Doing Surgery?

Not exactly. The da Vinci® Surgical System is, essentially, an extension of a surgeon's hands. By manipulating controls at a console, Dr. Feng can use the robot's tiny arms to perform complex surgical procedures. Because the arms are more flexible than human hands, surgeons can maneuver in small spaces that may be otherwise inaccessible. This helps avoid damage to surrounding tissues, too.

More Local Kids to Benefit from Robotic Surgery

da Vinci SurgeryWaldo Feng, MD, PhD, a pediatric urologist at the Children's Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital, is recognized nationally and internationally for his expertise in pediatric robotic-assisted surgery. He uses the da Vinci® Surgical System to treat children with:
  • Vesicoureteral (urinary) reflux. This condition causes urine from the bladder to flow back toward the kidney.
  • Obstructions in the ureteral pelvic junction where the ureter connects with the collecting part of the kidney. These blockages can decrease urine flow and increase pressure on the kidney.
  • Urological conditions that need major abdominal surgery. Other pediatric surgeons will begin offering robotic-assisted procedures at the Children's Medical Center in the near future.

Meet our new robot! For more information on how the da Vinci® Surgical System is being used to help kids at the Children's Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital, please visit www.IchooseSummerlin.com.