Surgery and Recovery

Learn Robotic Surgery fundamentals, types, and core definitions explained by multidisciplinary Robotic Surgery teams.

Robotic Surgery: Precision in Action, Speed in Healing

The day of surgery is often the most anxious day of a patient’s life. At Liv Hospital, we transform that anxiety into confidence through technology and transparency. When you enter our Robotic Operating Suite, you are entering one of the most advanced surgical environments in the world. It is a place of quiet focus, where high-definition digital interfaces replace the clamor of traditional surgery.

But the surgery itself is only half the story. The true value of robotics lies in what happens after you wake up. Because robotic arms are gentle on your tissues spreading muscle fibers rather than cutting them the body’s inflammatory response is significantly lower. This means less pain, less swelling, and a recovery timeline that is measured in days, not weeks.

This guide walks you through the entire journey, from the moment you are wheeled into the operating room to the moment you are cleared to fly home.

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Inside the Robotic Operating Room

The Robotic Suite looks different from a standard operating room. It is spacious, dimly lit (to enhance the surgeon’s view of the 3D screens), and organized into three distinct zones.

The Patient Cart

This is the robot itself, positioned by your bedside.

Da Vinci Xi: It has four thin robotic arms. One holds the high-definition camera, and three hold the surgical instruments (scissors, graspers, staplers).
Mako: It is a single, sturdy robotic arm that holds the saw or reamer for bone work.
Sterility: The robot is draped in sterile plastic covers. It never touches you directly; only the sterile instruments enter your body.

The Surgeon Console

This is where the magic happens. Your surgeon sits here, a few feet away from the bed.

Immersive View: They look into a viewfinder that provides a magnified, 3D high-definition view of inside your body. It feels like they are standing inside your abdomen.
Hand Controls: Their fingers slide into loops that control the robot’s movements. Foot pedals control the camera focus and cautery (energy to seal blood vessels).

The Vision Cart

This tower holds the powerful computers that process the images and translate the surgeon’s hand movements. It also has a large touchscreen monitor so the rest of the team (nurses, assistants) can see exactly what the surgeon is seeing in real-time.

The Procedure

Robotic surgery is a highly standardized process.

Step 1: Anesthesia and Positioning

Safety First: You are put to sleep under general anesthesia. For robotic cases, we use total muscle relaxation to ensure you don’t move a millimeter.
Positioning: You are carefully padded with gel mats to prevent pressure sores. For pelvic surgery (Prostate/Uterus), you are tilted head-down. For kidney surgery, you are on your side.

Step 2: Access and “Docking”

The Ports: The surgeon makes small “keyhole” incisions (8mm–12mm). Through these, we insert hollow tubes called ports.
Insufflation: We gently inflate your abdomen with CO2 gas to create working space. The AirSeal® system maintains stable pressure, preventing smoke buildup.
Docking: The robot is driven up to the operating table, and its arms are “docked” (connected) to the ports. This takes about 2–5 minutes.

Step 3: The Surgery

Dissection: The surgeon uses the robotic arms to peel away tissue, remove the tumor or organ, and seal blood vessels. The movements are precise and tremor-free.
Reconstruction: This is where the robot shines. Whether sewing the bladder back to the urethra (prostatectomy) or closing the vaginal cuff (hysterectomy), the robot allows for watertight, microscopic stitching that is impossible by hand.

Step 4: Extraction and Closure

Removal: The specimen (tumor/organ) is placed in a bag inside the body and pulled out through one of the small incisions.
Closure: The robot is undocked. The small skin incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures and covered with waterproof glue (Dermabond). No staples or large bandages are needed.

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Pain Management

One of the biggest fears is pain. At Liv Hospital, we use a Multimodal Pain Management strategy to stop pain before it starts, minimizing the use of strong opioids (which cause nausea and constipation).

Regional Blocks (TAP Block): While you are asleep, the anesthesiologist injects long-acting local anesthetic into the layers of your abdominal wall. This numbs the nerves that supply the skin incisions for 12–24 hours.
Non-Narcotic Meds: We give scheduled doses of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) and Anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) through the IV.
The Result: Most robotic surgery patients describe their pain as “discomfort” or “soreness” rather than sharp pain. Many require no morphine at all after leaving the recovery room.

Immediate Recovery

After surgery, you move to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).

Waking Up: You will feel groggy. A nurse is dedicated to you 1-on-1.
Monitoring: We watch your blood pressure, oxygen, and heart rate.
Hydration: You may have a dry mouth. Once you are fully awake, we give you ice chips or sips of water.

Duration: Most patients stay here for 1–2 hours before moving to their private room.

The Hospital Stay

The old advice was “bed rest.” The new science is Early Mobilization.

Day of Surgery (Day 0)

Sitting Up: Within 4–6 hours of surgery, the nurse will help you sit on the edge of the bed.
Walking: For joint replacements (Mako), physical therapy starts today. You will stand and take your first steps with a walker. For abdominal surgery, you will walk to the bathroom or down the hall. Walking prevents blood clots and wakes up your gut.
Eating: You start with clear liquids (broth, juice). If you tolerate them, you move to solid food the same evening.

The Next Morning (Day 1)

Catheter Removal: If you had a urinary catheter (common for prostate/pelvic surgery), it is usually removed early in the morning (unless the surgeon specifies otherwise).
Walking Laps: You are encouraged to walk the hospital corridors 3–4 times.
Discharge Planning: For many procedures (Mako Knee, Hysterectomy, Hernia), you might be discharged today. For Prostatectomy or Colectomy, you usually stay one more night.

Discharge and "Fit to Fly"

Recovery doesn’t end when you leave the hospital; it continues at your hotel or home.

Wound Care

Waterproof: Your incisions are sealed with glue. You can shower 24–48 hours after surgery. Let the water run over the wounds, but do not scrub them. Pat dry.
No Baths: Do not soak in a bathtub, pool, or Jacuzzi for 2 weeks.

Managing Swelling

Ice: For joint replacements, ice is your best friend. Use it for 20 minutes every hour.
Compression: Wear your compression stockings (TED hose) to prevent leg swelling and clots.

The “Fit to Fly” Timeline

Short Flights (<3 hours): Usually safe 3–5 days after surgery.
Long Flights (>5 hours): We typically recommend waiting 7–10 days to minimize the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
Blood Thinners: We will prescribe blood thinner injections (Clexane) or pills for you to take during your flight and recovery period.

Why Recovery is Faster with Robotics

Why does a robotic patient go home in 1 day while an open surgery patient stays for 5?

Less Tissue Trauma: The robotic arms pivot at the port site, minimizing pressure on the abdominal wall muscles. Open retractors pull and tear muscle fibers.
Less Inflammation: Because there is less trauma, the body releases fewer inflammatory chemicals (cytokines). This means less fatigue and “brain fog.”
Less Blood Loss: Keeping your blood count high means you have more energy to walk and heal.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will I have a catheter after prostate surgery?

Yes. For robotic prostatectomy, the urethra is reconnected to the bladder. A catheter acts as a splint to let this connection heal watertight. You will go home with it and typically remove it yourself (or have a nurse do it) 5–7 days later. It is painless to remove.

When can I climb stairs after robotic surgery?

For most surgeries, you can climb stairs immediately upon discharge (slowly). For knee/hip replacements, the physiotherapist will teach you the “Good leg up, Bad leg down” technique before you leave the hospital.

When can I drive after surgery?

You cannot drive while taking narcotic pain medication (it’s illegal and unsafe). Once you are off narcotics and can stomp your foot on the brake without pain (usually 1–2 weeks), you can drive.

Is it normal to have shoulder pain after abdominal surgery?

Yes. This is “referred pain” from the CO2 gas used to inflate your abdomen. The gas can irritate the diaphragm, which shares nerves with the shoulder. Walking and heat packs help the gas reabsorb faster. It usually goes away in 24–48 hours.

When can I resume sexual activity after surgery?

General Surgery/Orthopedics: Whenever you feel comfortable (usually 2–3 weeks).

Prostatectomy/Hysterectomy: You must wait 6 weeks to allow the internal sutures to heal fully. Resuming too early can cause damage.

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