FORT SMITH, Ark. – A surgeon at Baptist Health-Fort Smith recently reached a milestone as she completed her 1,000th robotic-assisted procedure.
JeanMarie Householder, MD, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist who specializes in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgeries using the da Vinci surgical system at Baptist Health-Fort Smith. She has been with the health system for 17 years. In addition to gynecological services, Dr. Householder also provides obstetric care to women in the River Valley.
The da Vinci surgical system allows surgeons to perform complex, delicate operations with increased precision and improved dexterity through four robotic arms. The system can be used in a wide range of gynecological and urological procedures.
During robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon is seated at a console a few feet away from the patient and views a 3D high-definition image of the surgical site while operating in real-time through tiny incisions using electromechanically-enhanced instruments. A team of surgical staff are positioned at the patient’s side to assist the physician, as needed.
Robotic-assisted procedures often result in less pain, faster recovery and a shorter hospital stay compared to other surgeries. Gynecological surgeries the system can be used for include:
- Hysterectomy for benign conditions
- Hysterectomy for cancer
- Pelvic organ prolapse surgery
- Myomectomy
- Endometriosis resection
To request a consultation for robotic-assisted surgery and to learn more about its use in gynecological and urological procedures, visit baptist-health.com/davinci.
Baptist Health is Arkansas’ most comprehensive health care organization with more than 200 points of access that include 11 hospitals; urgent care centers; a senior living community and over 100 primary and specialty care clinics in Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. The system additionally offers a college with studies in nursing and allied health; a graduate residency program; and access to virtual care anytime, anywhere. Baptist Health, as the largest not-for-profit health care organization based in Arkansas, provides care to patients wherever they are through the support of approximately 11,000 employees, groundbreaking treatments, renowned physicians and community outreach programs. For more information about Baptist Health, visit baptist-health.com, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or download the myBaptistHealth app. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
