 |
DOCTORS PERFORM CAMERON COUNTY’S 1st PROSTATE CANCER SURGERY
USING NEW ROBOT SYSTEM
Harlingen, August 14, 2008 -- Doctors at Valley
Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen have performed Cameron County’s
first prostate removal surgeries using a new robot system which
doctors hope will result in less pain and faster recoveries for
prostate cancer and other patients.
Dr. Michael J. Finger and
Dr. Erin K. McCormick, urologists, performed the first surgeries
on a 72-year-old Donna man and a 60-year-old Harlingen man, Donald
Hurly, recently using the new da Vinci® robotic surgical system at
Valley Baptist.
 “This
is a significant breakthrough for the Valley; an exciting advance
which represents the beginning of the future for surgery using
minimally-invasive techniques,” Dr. McCormick said. “This can be a
life-saving procedure to treat prostate cancer.”
Dr. McCormick said the robot – guided by certified physicians – can
help doctors perform the prostate removal (prostatectomy) surgery
through several small incisions instead of a large incision. This
can mean less scarring, less blood loss, shorter recovery times, and
shorter stays in the hospital, she said.
“We can insert the instruments and a camera through multiple small
incisions,” Dr. McCormick added. “This is really an amazing machine;
it’s the newest and latest robot, with high-definition, 3-D vision …
it’s almost like looking through a microscope. The robot also has an
‘endo-wrist’ which gives us more flexibility in small places. You
can get more precise suturing.”
In addition to Dr. McCormick and Dr. Finger, physicians who are
currently certified with the new system at Valley Baptist include
Dr. Jose Maymi, Urologist of Brownsville; and
Ashraf Hilmy, General Surgeon. The robot can also be used for
other types of surgery, including certain gynecological and general
surgeries.
Barry Lenke, RN, BSN, MPS, CNAA, Director of Surgical Services at
Valley Baptist, noted that the procedure at Valley Baptist marks the
first time that urologists practicing in Cameron County had
performed a robotic minimally-invasive surgery.
“With the purchase and installation of the da Vinci® Surgical System
(the robot) from Intuitive Surgical, Valley Baptist Medical Center
is stepping out into the future and taking a leadership role in the
world of minimally invasive surgery,” Mr. Lenke said. “Robotic
surgery at the hands of the trained and highly skilled surgeon can
consistently provide successful resolution to patients with needs
for aggressive surgical intervention.”
Mr. Lenke added that post-prostatectomy patients, post-hysterectomy
patients, and patients having major abdominal surgery can look
forward to far less post-operative pain, rapid recovery and rehab
periods, and far quicker return of functions. “The future of robotic
surgery is at this point untold but all indications are that this
will represent a major evolution in surgical practice and
technique,” he said.
With the da Vinci Surgical System, the surgeon operates while seated
comfortably at a console viewing a 3D image of the surgical field.
Unlike hand-executed minimally invasive surgical procedures, robotic
surgery vastly improves the surgeon’s visualization of the actual
surgical site, eliminates hand shake or tremor, provides amazing
dexterity with instrumentation, and can significantly improve
outcomes for surgical patients. The system seamlessly translates the
surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time
movements of surgical instruments inside the patient.
Many surgical procedures performed today using the standard
laparoscopic technique could be performed more quickly and easily
using the da Vinci Surgical System. This is because the da Vinci
Surgical System delivers increased clinical capability while
maintaining the same "look and feel" of open surgery.
For more information on robotic surgery and other advances in health
care in the Valley, visit
www.ValleyBaptist.net.
|
|
