Getting a new Da Vinci XI robot, any advice ?

WhoDatWhoDare, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2017

One of the hospitals I work in had 2 SI models then purchased a 3rd robot but it was an XI. The big difference was getting used to having the appropriate supplies and instruments for each model and stored in the respective rooms so that we didn't pull the wrong camera or instruments for the wrong model.. You won't have that issue.

As far as taking pictures, the Da Vinci has a video output that we connect to a stand alone laparoscopic tower that has a printer attached and just capture the images with that unit and print them out from there. It works fine, we just have to make sure we have the DVI cable connected to the tower and the circulator press the camera button on that panel when the surgeon wants to capture an image for printing.

Good luck. They're nice. Big improvement over the SI since the robot has the ability to rotate the boom depending on which side of the patient you approach.

Be sure that you guys have a "robotic" OR bed/table and consider stocking the trendelenburg positioning pads that minimize the risk of the patient sliding when in a steep incline/decline.

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 5, 2017

If you have any other model of the robot, make sure you set up in your system separate preference cards for each robot. It'll save a lot of headaches when supplies need picked.

mhy12784 · Jan 5, 2017

Just one robot so the confusion is a non issue.

And we ordered a robotic bed, but have not gotten it yet.

I cant believe how terrible the functionality is for the robot when it comes to pictures though

Like how can there not be a way to connect it to a tablet or ipad or something at the absolute minimum

As for the sliding we use the xomed pink pad for those cases, so i think itll be a non issue

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 5, 2017

If this is the first robot, then I would advise starting with a core team to learn the cases. When my facility first introduced robots, we trained 2 teams- these teams were responsible for full coverage of all robotics cases for the first 3 months, including staying late if cases didn't finish before the end of first shift. Once we hit that 3 month mark, we started introducing other experienced staff to robotic cases. The consistency not only helped those on the team learn the cases, it boosted confidence on the surgeon's part as well. Also by not rotating the entire staff through robotic cases, it prevented the staff from seeing a case once, not seeing one for several months, and being expected to remember everything they had learned with the first case.

birdie22 · Jan 11, 2017

its a life saver in terms of room functionality. you can dock from any angle and the boom rotates. no more having to make sure the circulator can drive it into the exact location at the exact angle 10 minutes later. biggest hurdle is definitely the different supplies, different arm covers, arms, trocars, etc. pain to have multiple systems. also, as we have learned the hard way, the new scope is a lot easier to break...more expensive to fix...so start good training habits with the staff early.

mhy12784 · Jan 13, 2017

its a life saver in terms of room functionality. you can dock from any angle and the boom rotates. no more having to make sure the circulator can drive it into the exact location at the exact angle 10 minutes later. biggest hurdle is definitely the different supplies, different arm covers, arms, trocars, etc. pain to have multiple systems. also, as we have learned the hard way, the new scope is a lot easier to break...more expensive to fix...so start good training habits with the staff early.

Any advice in regards to scope safety? Because I can certainly see that being an issue

Maybe padded/fitted scope trays that you can put on the field or something to that effect?

birdie22 · Jan 13, 2017

You can get specific trays from da Vinci for the scopes which do a good job. We leave ours in a fluid warmer to help with the defog. Most of ours break bc people aren't careful when it's resting in the warmer and lock it over or something. Especially at the end of case when it's more chaotic in the room people just throw the camera into the warmer and aren't paying attention. We now always clip and secure it instead of it just resting on things.

Also the Xi is wayyyyy easier to drape. There isn't a camera drape and the scope it way nicer and user friendly

gamomof2 · Mar 9, 2017

The tower has a USB drive. The surgeon can take pictures from the console using the finger pads. Also Stryker makes a picture/video component that hooks directly to the console. We take pictures to the USB and then either print them or email them directly to the surgeon. Your rep should know this. We're in Georgia and have an SI and XI. We're looking at purchasing a second XI it has gone so well. We use 0 and 30 XI scopes.