Northwest Community gets new surgical robot technology

Northwest Community Healthcare surgeons recently performed the first surgeries in the Chicago area using the new da Vinci XI technology - a four-armed robot that offers greater range of motion and reach, officials said.

"NCH is excited to be the first in the Chicago area with the next generation surgical system as part of our continued effort to offer significant surgical advancements to the community," said Michelle Luthringshausen, director of robotics at NCH.

The da Vinci technology can be used in a number of minimally invasive surgical procedures, including colorectal, urology, gynecology, thoracic and general surgery.

"As a surgeon, I am particularly excited by the improvements in this generation of da Vinci, which offers greater vision, dexterity and precision," Alan Loren, chief medical officer at NCH, said in a news release. "This technology truly is a natural extension of a surgeon's eyes and hands. The da Vinci Xi allows us to provide state-of-the-art technological advancements to our patients facing complex surgical procedures and propels NCH to pave the way in clinical care."

The benefits of using the robot include smaller incisions, less blood loss, less pain, shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to work, Luthringshausen says.