Evergreen Hospital, known for minimally invasive surgery anticipates performing the region’s first single-incision gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy).
Using an innovative robotically assisted device, Evergreen will conduct the FDA-approved surgical procedure in the areas of Washington and Oregon on March 21.
Dr. Michael Towbin from Evergreen will perform cholecystectomy for two patients, a 33-year-old woman and a man-aged 66. The surgical procedure takes place by creating a small, single incision using the da Vinci robot-assisted system, in the patient’s belly buttons.
Usually multiple incisions are created in the abdomen for gallbladder and laparoscopic surgery and requires an extended recovery period. The new surgical method based on the da Vinci system will contribute to better and safer results with a minimal recovery period.
Using da Vinci robot's programmed control and directed by a high-resolution endoscopic camera, the surgeons can handle the surgical instruments more efficiently. The da Vinci robot arms enable the surgeon’s hands to be extended to a wider angle, minimizing the occurrence of error. The surgeons can therefore perform high-precision operations with improved 3-D visualization and maneuverability.
One’s of the recent milestones in Evergreen’s patient-friendly technology service is the deployment of the da Vinci system. Evergreen has been using the da Vinci robot since two years, and anticipates procuring another system in response to the increasing patient demand.
Evergreen’s recent innovation includes MAKOplasty, a minimally invasive partial knee replacement surgical option, supporting the facility’s arthroscopy, computer navigation and minimally invasive total knee replacement capabilities.