Last week, local officials and hospital leaders at TriStar Northcrest Medical Center cut the ribbon to unveil the latest cutting-edge robotic technology for surgery.
Called the Da Vinci Surgical System, this unique medical device improves the efficiency of specialized surgeries, including common surgeries such as gynecologic rectal resection, gynecologic hysterectomy, appendectomy and gallbladder surgery. .
According to Rob DeBerry, vice president of operations at HCA Healthcare, the device can be used for all procedures between the neck and pelvis and will be the next improvement to laparoscopic surgery.
“I’ve always heard that laparoscopy is the way to go because it shortens healing time, improves quality, and allows patients to return to work and daily life much faster,” DeBerry said. , this robotics is the next step. This results in faster healing time and less anesthetic use.
The Da Vinci system consists of a surgeon’s console, usually in the same room as the patient, and a carriage at the patient’s side with her three to four interactive robotic arms controlled from the console. The arms hold objects and act as scalpels, scissors, or claws.
The last arm controls her 3D camera. The surgeon uses her controls on the console to operate the robotic arm of the patient-side carriage. For the patient, da Vinci surgery typically requires smaller incisions, limiting long-term pain for the patient.
As a result, hospitals and other health care providers may be able to reduce their use of narcotics and opioids to manage pain due to the recent nationwide narcotics and opioid epidemic.
In addition, these surgeries reduce hospital stays, allowing patients to return to their normal routines sooner, potentially leading to better clinical outcomes.
“Thanks to this new machine, we are now able to perform surgeries where patients can walk that day or the next day,” he said. “So we’ve been trying to get this machine for about five years. Fortunately, now that I am part of HCA, I have the opportunity to purchase such a device. Deliver faster, more accurate, and better patient care. That’s the end goal. It’s all about better patient care and quality. ”
This type of equipment is not common in most small community hospitals, but other large healthcare providers, such as HCA, have recently been able to install these surgical instruments in their member hospitals.
In addition to improving patient care, DeBerry has found it useful as a recruitment tool for physicians trained in these tools.