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The first Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery in Ventura County

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Minimally invasive surgery close to home

So you can heal quickly and get back to the people you enjoy most

Center of Excellence

Recognized as a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), Adventist Health Simi Valley offers the most effective, least invasive surgical treatments available. This accreditation signals that our hospital is among the best in this specialty and is acknowledged for providing the highest quality of care and patient safety.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a condition that may require surgery, you owe it to yourself to learn about all your medical options. Our program is led by world-class surgeons and offers the versatile da Vinci Surgical System, ExcelsiusGPS for spine surgeries, and Mako Robotic-Assisted System for total knee or hip replacements.

Our robotic surgery program provides surgeons with alternatives to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, putting a surgeon's hands at the controls of state-of-the-art robotic platforms, enabling surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision.

Call (805) 955-6330 to schedule a consultation

The benefits of minimally invasive surgery:

  • Significantly less pain
  • Less need for pain medications
  • Less blood loss
  • Less scarring
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Shorter recovery time
  • A faster return to daily activities
  • Better clinical outcomes

Many conditions can be treated using robotic-assisted surgery, including:

  • Gallbladder disease
  • Gynecologic conditions
  • Bariatric Surgery
  • Pancreatic disease
  • Prostate conditions
  • Stomach cancer
  • Knee and hip replacement
  • Spine surgery

Explore the latest technology

Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Bariatric, Gastrointestinal, General, Gynecological, Hernia and Urological Procedures

Da Vinci Image[2]

The da Vinci Xi Surgical System brings the most advanced robotic technology to patients and physicians in the area. Many of the minimally invasive procedures allow patients to have their procedure done, then comfortably recover at home the same day. This results in less post-surgical pain, shorter hospital stays and faster return to normal daily activities. Versatile for procedures as wide-ranging as gallbladder, kidney stones, and overactive bladder issues to infertility and cancer treatment. Our system also includes dual viewing consoles for surgeons interested in training with Robotic Surgery Medical Director and Master Surgeon Dr. Andrea Pakula, with a direct view of what the surgeon is seeing.Da Vinci Surgeon At Console

Although the da Vinci is referred to as a “robot,” the system is not autonomous. It does not perform surgery, and the surgeon is always in complete control of the instruments. With the surgeon sitting at a console just a few feet from the patient, the da Vinci system translates the surgeon’s hand movements into corresponding micro-movements of the surgical instruments. This system enables physicians to perform delicate and complex operations through tiny incisions with enhanced dexterity and control.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Spine Procedures

Globus Image[1]

The ExcelsiusGPS is the next revolution in robotic spine surgery in the development of spinal and orthopedic implants and surgical instruments for patients with spine disorders. ExcelsiusGPS is designed to improve accuracy and optimize patient care by using robotics and navigation, much like a GPS in your car.Globus On Screen Planning

On the day of surgery medical images are taken and imported into ExcelsiusGPS. The surgeon uses these images to determine the size and placement of implants and creates a patient plan based on your anatomy. This is used to guide the rigid robotic arm to a specific region of your spine, similar to a planned route or pathway on a GPS. The surgeon uses this pathway or route to accurately place the implants using instruments.

Throughout the procedure, the surgical instruments and implants are continuously displayed on the screen for the surgeon and staff to monitor. This display allows the surgeon to view live feedback during your procedure for more precise implant placement.

Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Knee and Hip Joint Replacement

Mako Machine

The Mako combines advanced robotic technology which enables surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased accuracy.

Total knee replacements in the United States are expected to increase significantly in the upcoming years, and studies have shown that approximately 30 percent of patients are dissatisfied after conventional surgery. Through CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, our surgeons can now use the Mako System to create a personalized surgical plan based on a patient’s unique anatomy and to virtually modify the surgical plan intra-operatively as needed.Mako Total Knee 3D Planning

“Mako is changing the way joint replacement surgeries are performed by providing each patient with a personalized surgical experience based on their specific diagnosis and anatomy”, said Dr. Andrea Pakula, Medical Director of Robotic Surgery at Adventist Health Simi Valley. “Our Orthopedic surgical team has information at their fingertips that they’ve never had access to before.” The Mako System is the first and only robotic technology that can be used across joint replacements to perform total knee, total hip and partial knee replacements.

Our Team

Andrea Pakula, MD Andrea Pakula, MD, MPH, FACS
Robotic Surgery
Medical Director and
Master Surgeon
Cory Ferrier Cory Ferrier
Business
Development
Executive

Pam Geyer Pam Geyer
Surgery/Robotics Director

Click Here To View Related Patient Testimonials

First LastName Meet Dr. Pakula, Robotic Surgery Medical Director, Master Surgeon
Dr. Andrea Pakula, an internationally renowned surgeon who specializes in hernia repairs, bariatrics and acute care has joined the medical staff at Adventist Health Simi Valley to lead the development of our new robotics program.

Dr. Pakula is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on the Intuitive da Vinci line of surgical systems. She is one of just a handful of physicians in the nation who teaches other surgeons how to perform complex hernia repairs on the da Vinci robot. At Adventist Health Simi Valley, she will be operating with the da Vinci Xi, noted as the most capable and advanced instrumentation produced by Intuitive for minimally invasive procedures.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of robotic surgery is the reduced need for pain killers post-operatively. Many of Dr. Pakula’s patients require just ibuprofen in lieu of prescribed narcotics. Other benefits include shorter hospital stays, less pain, less blood loss during the procedure and an overall safer experience for patients.

“I believe in providing each patient with compassionate and personalized care and taking the time to assist them in making the best and safest choice,” Dr. Pakula says. “My goal is to provide modern, evidence-based surgical care and to offer minimally invasive techniques whenever possible.”

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