New robotics technology promotes expanded access to care
EL CENTRO — El Centro Regional Medical Center is excited about its new robotic surgical system and the potential it offers for expanding specialties, speeding recovery times and providing patients better access to care.
The da Vinci Xi is a robotic system controlled by a surgeon from a console. It helps surgeons perform complex surgeries, such as prostate removal or hernia repair, using a minimally invasive approach, and it can be operated from remote locations. A second generation da Vinci Xi surgical system was installed at ECRMC recently and is already making a difference.
The new da Vinci has smaller instruments, which allow for better access into the abdomen or chest region. “This means less pain afterwards,” said Dr. Elias Moukarzel, ECRMC’s chief of staff.
Not only are the instruments smaller, but the machine is equipped with three-dimensional, high-definition visualization that allows the surgeon to obtain a better view, he said.
The machine is also able to self-adjust to provide more precise access to the area where surgery will be performed.
“It helps make everyone’s job easier,” Moukarzel said.
The added precision all from less potential blood loss compared to earlier models. Last week, Moukarzael performed a surgery using the da Vinci in which the blood loss was less than 20 cubic centimeters.
“This is a big improvement,” Moukarzel said, “not that the old one had major bleeding, but it is less than the first gen.” he said.
Open surgeries used to cause up to a half liter (500 cc) of blood loss.
The new da Vinci’s instruments also allow for a longer reach, which is of particular benefit to more plus-sized patients. It also uses less energy than the previous model. Moukarzel said this is important because not only is it more efficient, but when the machine uses too much energy, risk of injury to the patient increases.
There are two types of energy the da Vinci uses: electrical and ultrasound energy, “If you use energy that dissipates, then it can cause an injury,” Moukarzel said. If the surgeon is cutting into a vein the excess amount of energy used can cause heat to travel and damage a surrounding tissue or vein. With a reduced amount of energy exerted these injures are less likely to happen.
Second generation Da Vinci being more precise allows patients who are obese to go into surgery much faster. In the past, those same patients had to lose weight prior to having surgery.
The precision of the smaller, thinner arms allows for a better range in motion, which helps eliminate wound infections. This helps control a significant problem among diabetic patients, who are especially prone to infection. But the small, 8-millimeter incision from the da Vinci keeps the risk negligible.
This robotics technology is revolutionizing surgery in many ways, including reduced hospital costs, faster care and quicker recover times. Also, because the technology allows for remote access, doctors can potential perform surgery from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. That means more access to services for patients in rural areas.