Children's Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery

Corewell Children's hospital specializes in minimally invasive surgery for kids. We have the latest equipment, including new da Vinci robotic systems, and our skilled pediatric surgeons make us a top hospital in the region. Our center for pediatric minimally invasive surgery, started in 2023, shows our dedication to quality care, innovation, and education. We offer advanced minimally invasive surgery for many conditions, in children of virtually any age.

The robot device enhances the physical abilities of the surgeon. The robot helps extend the dexterity, reach and visualization of the surgeon. The robot arms reflect the exact movements of the surgeon in real time but with much greater precision, allowing for smaller incisions and scarring.

Minimally invasive surgery provides less pain, faster return to activities and school, shorter stays in the hospital, less external and internal scarring, and often a superior cosmetic result.

The benefits of robotic surgery include, but are not limited to:

• Better dexterity for delicate procedures and small patients
• Enhanced visual field, often allowing visualization of adjacent structures which may not be visible in the respective standard open technique
• Instruments with expanded range of motion
• 3-D imaging of the surgical site
• Stabilization, which removes any instability in human hands
• Smaller incisions and better cosmetic result
• Less pain and trauma
• Shorter recovery times and hospital stays

Robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery is offered for select conditions at Corewell Health Children’s. While it has many advantages, there are some challenges. Robotic-assisted surgery may not be suitable for every minimally invasive procedure. Your surgeon will help you understand if utilizing the robot is an appropriate choice for your child’s condition.

The following procedures can be performed with robotic-assisted surgery: