Dec 30 2010
Susan Hunter, a gynecological obstetrician based in Harlingen, Texas has performed the 100th robot-assisted surgery, creating medical history in the Rio Grande Valley.
Dr. Susan Hunter follows up on patient Julie Teat after her surgery using the da Vinci robotic surgery machine at Valley Baptist Medical Center.
The operation, known as da Vinci procedure, was carried out by Hunter at the Valley Baptist Medical Center. The procedure was performed with the help of a robot named Dexter.
Intuitive Surgical has developed the da Vinci system. One surgeon in Edinburg, three in Harlingen and four in Rio Grande Valley were in the Surgical surgeon database.
According to Hunter, the advantages of performing a robot-assisted operation include shorter recovery time and smaller surgical incisions. She added that the robot enables her to amplify the 3D vision and allows a comprehensive series of motion and eliminates human hand tremor.
According to Intuitive Surgical, the robot can aid in surgeries to treat obesity, kidney cancer, coronary artery diseases and bladder cancer. The robot helped Hunter to carry out a hysterectomy in her 100th surgery.