NCH is first hospital in area to use da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgery

Northwest Community Healthcare surgeons made history recently in robotic surgery as they 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, according to Michelle Luthringshausen, MD, director of robotics at NCH.

"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," Luthringshausen says.

Dr. Alan Loren of Buffalo Grove, chief medical officer at NCH, successfully completed an inguinal hernia repair, ventral hernia repair and a cholecystectomy on patients, marking the first procedures using the new da Vinci Xi system at NCH.

The next generation of da Vinci has broader capabilities than previous versions, Loren says. It can be used across a wide spectrum 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," Loren says.

"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.

The Xi possesses 3D-HD visualization, giving surgeons a highly magnified view, virtually extending their eyes and hands into the patient, she says.