Dec 27 2010
Bariatric surgeons, Robert (Les) Miles at Alabama Weight Loss Surgery and Lee Schmitt at St. Vincent’s East, have conducted two robotic gastric bypass procedures using the da Vinci Surgical System.
The pair has successfully done over 3,000 weight reducing operations on patients from Alabama. They have designed a complete bariatric program at St. Vincent's East, which serves as a model for a variety of new programs throughout the nation.
The robot provides enhanced visibility to physicians by permitting them to direct a camera with foot pedals and allowing them to receive and manage a three-dimensional view of the surgical spot.
Gastric bypass surgeries are performed for treating clinically severe obesity. During the procedure, the physician makes a tiny stomach pouch and then builds a bypass of some portion of the small intestine. The pouch limits the quantity of the patient’s food intake and thus reduces the amount of calories and nutrients absorbed.
Todd Kennedy, CEO at St. Vincent’s East commented that the facility is committed to provide robotic offerings, and surgeons use robotic technology to improve the patients’ quality of life.
Source: http://www.stvhs.com