Robotic Surgery

Claus Roehrborn, M.D., (left) uses the dual-console DaVinci Surgical System.

UT Southwestern offers our patients robotic-assisted surgery for a range of procedures. Our specially trained surgeons operate a sophisticated robotic platform that overcomes some of the limitations of both traditional open surgery and conventional minimally invasive surgery to perform this type of procedure. Robotic surgery offers patients less pain, fewer complications, and a faster return to normal daily activities.

Robotic surgical procedures performed at UT Southwestern include:

Our Specialists

Our robotic surgeons are some of the most experienced of their kind in the nation. With the assistance of the robot, surgeons perform major surgeries through the smallest of incisions, which benefits patients’ recovery.

At UT Southwestern, we performed:

  • The first robotic single-incision (through the belly button) kidney removal in North Texas and the first single-incision kidney drainage reconstruction in Texas.
 Jeffrey Cadeddu, M.D., performed the surgery.
  • The first robotic single-incision (through the belly button) ovary removal in North Texas. Mayra Thompson, M.D., performed the surgery.
  • The first transoral (through the mouth) robotic procedure in Dallas to remove throat tumors.
 Baran Sumer, M.D., performed the surgery.
  • The first robotic lung-tumor procedure, and the first chest wall resection in North Texas.
 Michael DiMaio, M.D., performed the surgery.

Our surgeons have also helped advance the field and are unique in many ways. For example:

Kemp Kernstine, M.D., performed several first robotic chest procedures and techniques, including the first published robotic oncologic esophagectomy in the world. He has become one of the highest volume robotic thoracic surgeons in the country with outstanding results.

Ellen Wilson, M.D., is one of few in the region who performs robotic tubal reversals.