Vista surgeon finds some surgeries better with robotics
A cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gall bladder, a procedure that typically is performed by inserting a video camera (laparoscope) and surgical instruments through small incisions. Recently, however, two surgeons at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan performed a more complicated cholecystectomy with the help of a robot – the hospital's new da Vinci® SiTM Surgical System installed last year.
Dr. Daniel Liesen, a general surgeon at Vista Health System who led the recent procedure, estimates he has performed more than 1,500 cholecystectomies using the laparoscopic technique that has been common since the 1980s. This particular patient's case was more challenging than normal because of dense scarring, which would have made removing the gall bladder laparoscopically more difficult. Those considerations, along with the patient's desire for the least invasive procedure possible, led him to choose the da Vinci.
“The da Vinci provides you with much better visualization, much better control of the instruments in the abdominal cavity, a full range of motion at the instrument tip, which adds so much,” said Dr. Liesen. “It's very easy to use, very intuitive.”
Vista has a number of surgeons who have completed the extensive training and credentialing required to use the da Vinci. These surgeons regularly use Vista's robot to remove a woman's uterus (hysterectomy) or a man's prostate (prostatectomy). The cholecystectomy by Dr. Liesen and assisted by Dr. Amit Parikh is indicative of the growing list of procedures to be performed robotically at Vista. It is a trend that Dr. Liesen expects will continue to take hold with more surgeons over time.
“I'm sold on it as being the future and that it will play a greater role in surgeries that we do, especially for more complex laparoscopic procedures,” he said. “It's an extra tool to help us do the surgery with a little bit better visualization and better control. The da Vinci allows us to do the more challenging cases than what you could otherwise do, and do them more proficiently.”
The da Vinci system has four robotic arms – three arms to hold and manipulate high-precision instruments, plus one to hold and position the high-resolution stereo endoscope. Seated at the da Vinci console, the surgeon views the operative site through magnified, high resolution, 3-D imaging and controls the high precision instruments to perform the surgery. The da Vinci® Si™ Surgical System at Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan is the newest generation model on the market.
“I used the first generation robot, and this is the third generation robot that we have here at Vista. It's amazing the difference between the two,” said Dr. Liesen. “It's so much easier to use than the first generation robot.”
He also has high praise for the OR surgical team at Vista. “They're awesome. They can set up the OR for a robotic surgery in 15 minutes, which is amazing. They're also very coordinated in how they turn over the rooms here. Each member of the OR team has a specific role in working with the robot and equipment that they rotate from procedure to procedure.”
While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci Surgical System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. There are no guarantees of outcome. All surgeries involve the risk of major complications. Before deciding on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual; it may not be applicable to your condition. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits. Only your doctor can determine whether da Vinci Surgery is appropriate for your situation.
For more information on the da Vinci at Vista, visit www.VistaHealth.com/daVinci.