The Age of Robotics: How Mount Sinai’s Robot Will Deliver Life-Changing Care

It’s bright, shiny and has four arms.

It’s the fourth generation da Vinci Xi surgical robot, and it is elevating the hospital’s world-class surgical program to new levels of excellence. Part of the Robotics Suite, the da Vinci Xi is the most advanced surgical robot in Toronto and one of few in Ontario. It will allow teams to perform more complex laparoscopic operations on patients with complicated health concerns.

Dr. Jonathon Solnik, Head of Gynaecology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, looks forward to being one of the first Mount Sinai surgeons to use the robot. Internationally recognized as a leader in his field, he trained in the United States where the benefits of robotics have been long-proven. He expands on why he considers robotics to be the future of surgery.

“Laparoscopy surgery affords patients specific benefits ─ shorter recovery, less pain, an earlier return to normal activities and quality of life,” he said. “Using a surgical robot enables an extremely precise type of laparoscopic surgery. Traditional laparoscopic instruments twist and open. But the robot gives you wrists ─ wristing motions enabling seven degrees of rotation that traditional laparoscopic instruments don’t. So it allows you to more safely reconstruct organs, which can be quite difficult with traditional laparoscopic surgery.”

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Mount Sinai is committed to deepening its focus on surgical specialization; the introduction of robotics is an ideal match for the patients it serves. It will enable surgeons in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology to better treat select patient groups – women with specific cancers, a high body mass index, complicated pelvic disorders or complex endometriosis, as well as those who need nerve-sparing surgery or have uterine fibroids and need fertility-sparing surgery, among others. 

The Robotics Suite is one of the many advancements of Renew Sinai, the largest and most ambitious redevelopment in hospital’s history. And it has brought with it a renewed excitement, notes Dr. Solnik.

“It’s a re-invigorated team. We have superbly-trained surgeons who already perform minimally-invasive surgery on patients with really complicated medical problems. Along with new ORs and a new surgical floor, we now also have the ultimate tool to conduct cutting-edge surgery. This is the innovative technology we need to continue to be world-class.”

Robotics-assisted surgeries will be available to gynaecology, gynaecologic oncology and urology patients in fall, 2021.