Robotic surgery system to be shown

The da Vinci Xi surgical system will be on display from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday at CHRISTUS St. Michael in the North Conference Center, 2600 St. Michael Drive, Texarkana, Texas. The public is invited to attend this event and learn more about the technology available with the da Vinci robot in the field of general surgery.

General surgeons including Dr. Marney Sorenson, Dr. Mark Sutherland, Dr. Beth Peterson and Dr. Gregg Angier will be available, as their schedules allow, to answer questions about robot-assisted surgery and demonstrate how the system is used to perform procedures. Representatives from the da Vinci clinical staff and members of the St. Michael surgical services team will also be on hand to provide information and answer questions. In addition, participants can practice operating the da Vinci system.

St. Michael launched the da Vinci surgical system in June 2010 and has since upgraded the system to the da Vinci Si system, equipped with the most advanced technology available for the Si. More than 1,100 procedures have been performed at St. Michael using this robotic technology.

The da Vinci surgical system is a tool that utilizes advanced, robotic, computer and optical technologies to assist specially trained surgeons perform a less invasive technique than more traditional “open” surgery for specific procedures such as colon resection, hernia repair and foregut surgery. The system can also be used by specialty surgeons for urologic, general laparoscopic, gynecologic, thoracic and some types of heart surgery.

“The da Vinci surgical system offers a 3D-HD vision system, special instruments and computer software that allow your surgeon to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control,” said Carol Giese, director of surgical services for St. Michael. “The da Vinci instruments are equipped with mechanical wrists that bend and rotate to mimic the movements of the human wrist, allowing the surgeon to make small, precise movements inside your body.”

Benefits for patients can include shorter hospital stays, less blood loss, faster recovery, smaller incisions and less need for narcotic pain medication.

“Patients should know if they are not candidates for nonrobotic minimally invasive surgery, they are also not candidates for da Vinci surgery,” Giese said. “Patients should discuss with their surgeons to decide if da Vinci surgery is appropriate for their situation.”