Breakthrough technology is enabling unprecedented precision for lymphatic bypass surgery, offering new hope for patients with lymphedema.
Dr Nicholas J Panetta of USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Tampa General Hospital has achieved a ground-breaking milestone in robotic microsurgery by performing the first fully robotic lymphovenous bypass (LVB) in the US, utilising FDA-cleared NanoWrist Dissection Instruments on the Symani Surgical System.
This development enables surgeons to conduct precise tissue dissection and vessel preparation with exceptional control, heralding a new era in minimally invasive treatment for lymphedema.
Lymphoedema, characterised by swelling due to lymph fluid accumulation in the arms or legs, results from a damaged or obstructed lymphatic system.
It is frequently caused by cancer treatments such as lymph node removal, but it can also be genetic.
Lymphovenous bypass (LVB), a form of super-microsurgery, addresses this condition by connecting the blocked lymphatic vessels directly to nearby small veins, establishing an alternative drainage pathway to reduce swelling.
Dr Panetta, chair of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Plastic Surgery and chief of the Plastic Surgery Institute at TGH Robotics, said it will define the future of microsurgery, especially in lymphedema treatment, where sub-millimetre precision is critical.
He added: ‘Using these new instruments, I’m proud to have performed the first fully robotic LVB in the US. These tools are expanding capabilities beyond the limits of manual intervention to improve outcomes for patients.’
The NanoWrist dissection instruments, recently cleared by the FDA, are engineered for sub-millimetre precision, allowing robotic access to delicate structures such as lymphatic vessels.
When combined with Symani’s advanced surgical technology, these tools empower surgeons to execute complex microsurgical procedures entirely robotically.
In November 2024, the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital introduced the Symani Surgical System to the Southeastern United States.
Tampa General became the region’s first hospital to adopt this innovative robotic technology.
