da Vinci® Heller Myotomy (Swallowing Disorder Surgery)
If you have been told you have the swallowing disorder called achalasia, your doctor may suggest surgery. The goal of surgery is to help food and liquids reach your stomach.
Surgery can be done using open surgery (through a large incision) or minimally invasive surgery (through a few small incisions) with traditional laparoscopy or da Vinci Surgery.
Why da Vinci Surgery?
da Vinci technology enables your surgeon to operate through a few small incisions (cuts), like traditional laparoscopy, instead of a large open incision. The da Vinci System is a robotic-assisted surgical device that your surgeon is 100% in control of at all times. The da Vinci System gives surgeons:
- A 3D HD view inside your body
- Special wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human hand
- Enhanced vision, precision and control
The da Vinci System has brought minimally invasive surgery to more than 3 million patients worldwide. da Vinci technology – changing the experience of surgery for people around the world.
Learn more about the da Vinci Surgical System.
Risks and Considerations Related to Heller Myotomy (swallowing disorder surgery) include: tear/hole in the stomach lining, tear in the small intestine or esophagus, the stomach wrap around the esophagus pushes into the chest or breaks down, narrowing or tightening of the esophagus that makes swallowing difficult, collapsed lung, difficulty swallowing, heartburn, reflux, hiatal hernia which occurs when the stomach bulges into the chest through a hole in the diaphragm (muscle separating the chest from the abdomen).
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Serious complications may occur in any surgery, including da Vinci® Surgery, up to and including death. Individual surgical results may vary. Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if da Vinci Surgery is right for them. Patients and doctors should review all available information on non-surgical and surgical options in order to make an informed decision. Please also refer to http://www.daVinciSurgery.com/Safety for Important Safety Information.
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PN 1002289 Rev B 11/2015
