Single Port (SP) Robotic Surgery at Saint John's Health Center Expedites Recovery Time

Dr. Jennifer Linehan - Saint John's Cancer Institute — Jennifer Linehan, MD, Director of Urology Translational Research, and Associate Professor of Urology and Urologic Oncology

Dr. Jennifer Linehan, urologic oncologist at Saint John’s Health Center, reveals the evolution of robotic surgery and how surgical care is transforming for the benefit of patients.

As an advocate for continuously improving patient outcomes, Dr. Linehan was instrumental in helping to bring the new SP robotic surgery system to Saint John's.

Minimally invasive robotic surgery offers surgeons greater capability than traditional surgery. At Saint John’s health center, robotic surgery is widely used throughout many departments including urologic, gastrointestinal, gynecologic, cardiac, neuroscience and thoracic conditions. Having treated thousands of patients with benign and malignant conditions, Dr. Jennifer Linehan understands that robotics is the future. She proports the benefits of being able to access the anatomy in ways that improve upon the capabilities of the existing multi-arm robot. “I’m looking forward to furthering the robotics program here; I’m super exited to have it,” Dr. Linehan states in the video below.

“We are going to use this robot to innovate, help patients, make recovery faster, and make cancer care better.”

– Dr. Jennifer Linehan

How is a Single Port Robotic System Beneficial?

Robotic surgery using the single arm (SP) robot

The SP robot uses just one small incision, reducing scarring and potential complications. With fewer incisions, patients often experience less pain and quicker recovery times. The single incision also leads to better cosmetic outcomes, which is particularly important for surgeries in visible areas. The robotic has a wide range of motion and dexterity compared to traditional laparoscopic instruments and may offer surgeons greater options for certain conditions. The single-port design allows for more natural hand-eye coordination for surgeons, potentially reducing fatigue and improving precision. In comparison, the multi-port (or multi-arm) robot can offer greater flexibility where many incision points are needed, which can improve the dexterity of the surgeon particularly for highly-complex procedures, such as those requiring more extensive tissue manipulation.

The multi-use potential of single port robotics

“With this robot, you can go into smaller spaces and navigate withinside the body using one single arm,” says Dr. Linehan, who has over 17 years of robotic surgical experience. The prospects of a single arm robotic device are its many uses, and greater capabilities for laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. The device may be used for many cancer types, and other parts of the body. It’s less complicated for the surgeon to use because of how natural it feels versus a multi-arm device (also useful for its dexterity). With this robot, patients may leave the hospital sooner such as in 2 to 3 days post-surgery and experience faster recovery. There is also the potential for this type of robot to work best within natural spaces of the body—inside of hollow organs such as the bladder or stomach, or the retroperitoneal space. The single port robot by Intuitive, the makers of the Da Vinci robot, is truly an innovative technology for treating cancer patients.

Dr. Linehan is currently training urologic oncologic surgeons on how to use the Intuit’s newest robotic system. Seen in the video below, she is operating the robot to remove a tumor from a kidney with the help our urologic oncology fellow, Kyle Garcia, MD.

Dr. Jennifer Linehan Explains Single Port Robotic Surgery

Thank You to Our Donors!

We extend our deepest thanks for the unwavering generosity and commitment to advancing life-saving treatments and groundbreaking innovations at Saint John’s Health Center. Your invaluable and timely contributions continue to empower programs that elevate the standard of care, ensuring we can deliver the most advanced medical solutions available for our patients. From minimally invasive robotics to enhancing critical services and research, your support is transforming lives and shaping the future of healthcare every day.

“We are thrilled to contribute to the acquisition of such innovative technology and are extremely impressed by the groundbreaking work being done by Dr. Linehan and Saint John’s talented team of doctors.”

– William Anderson, speaking on behalf of the Anderson family

“We have worked hard to get to where we are, and community means everything to us. It’s important for us to give back and support those in need.”

– Steve Gozini

sjhcf-50 years of impact — Learn more at SaintJohnsFoundation.org.

At the heart of such initiatives is the Saint John’s Health Center Foundation, whose dedication to fostering vital partnerships allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible in patient care. We thank all the giving families and individuals who fuel this mission, driving innovation and care excellence, offering hope to those who need it most. Together, we are making a profound impact—one that will be felt for generations to come. Thank you for being an essential part of this journey.