DaVinci Minimally Invasive Surgery

BAPTIST HEALTH Brings New Minimally Invasive Treatment for Prostate Cancer, Gastric Bypass and Mitral Valve Surgery to Arkansas...

When medication, lifestyle changes and other non-surgical treatments cannot relieve symptoms, surgery is the accepted treatment for a broad range of conditions. Surgery can be a scary proposition for a patient, no matter how routine the procedure. If surgery is recommended, you want to learn as much as you can about your surgical options and find the physician and hospital that are right for you.

While surgery is generally the most effective treatment option for a range of abdominal and other conditions, traditional open surgery with a large incision has its drawbacks – pain, trauma, long recovery time and risk of infection.

BAPTIST HEALTH Medical Center-Little Rock is the first in the region to perform surgery using the da Vinci S Surgical System, an addition to Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci product line. The da Vinci S is BAPTIST HEALTH’s second robotic system and the first da Vinci S in the region.

The new robotic surgical system in Little Rock will be used to perform cardiac, prostate, and gastric bypass procedures. BAPTIST HEALTH Medical Center-North Little Rock began using the standard da Vinci robotic system in June 2005.

	Ginny and Bob Shell - Donors of the daVinci S system.

The new system is designed to expand the surgeon’s capabilities and provide patients with a minimally invasive option for many complex procedures -- for the very first time. The da Vinci S offers surgeons and their OR teams the advantages of fast setup, rapid instrument exchange, multi-quadrant access and multi-image display capabilities. Most patients experience less pain and a much shorter recovery with the da Vinci robotic system. BAPTIST HEALTH received a major gift from Ginny and Bob Shell of Little Rock to purchase the new daVinci S Surgical System. The Shells made the decision to support the new robotic system after witnessing the success of the unit at the North Little Rock medical center.

"We’re just pleased to be able to help others who will benefit from this advanced technology," said Bob Shell, a longtime supporter of BAPTIST HEALTH. "We hope to motivate others to consider similar-size gifts."

Russell D. Harrington Jr., president and CEO of BAPTIST HEALTH, speaks with high regard of the Shells and their history of philanthropy. "This couple truly practices what they preach and thanks to this gift will impact hundreds and eventually thousands of patients’ lives very soon," said Harrington.

Tim Langford, M.D., a urologist with BAPTIST HEALTH, said that the da Vinci and the new da Vinci S robotic systems provide the ability to see better and treat more effectively while offering the patient the most minimally invasive surgery possible.

"Our experience over the past year has shown that it offers a better operation for the patient with reduced complications, hospital stays and recovery time. Knowing we now have the latest technology available is very exciting," Langford said.

The da Vinci Surgical System consists of an ergonomically designed surgeon’s console and a patient-side cart with four interactive robotic arms. Powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology, the surgeon’s hand movements are scaled, filtered and seamlessly translated into precise movements. The net result is an intuitive interface with breakthrough surgical capabilities.

"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to be the first system in the region to operate with the da Vinci S model," said Harrington. "We’ve only started to explore all the capabilities of this system.

Fortunately, less invasive options are available to many patients facing surgery. The most common of these is laparoscopic surgery, in which smaller incisions are used. While laparoscopy is effective for many routine procedures, it has inherent limitations when more intricate and complex surgery is required.

A New Category in Minimally Invasive Surgery

Thanks to the latest evolution in surgical technology, physicians now have an effective alternative to traditional open surgery and laparoscopy that allows them to provide patients with the best of both approaches. With the assistance of the da Vinci™ Surgical System, surgeons can now operate using only 1-2 cm incisions, but with greater precision and control than ever before. da Vinci can help surgeons minimize the pain and risk associated with surgery while increasing the likelihood of a fast recovery and excellent clinical outcomes.¹

Learn More

To learn more about the most advanced minimally invasive approach to bariatric (weight-loss) surgery, click here.

Jacobsen G, Berger R, Horgan S. The role of robotic surgery in morbid obesity. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2003 Aug;13(4):279-83. Review.

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

For additional information on minimally invasive surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical System visit www.davincisurgery.com.