Thibodaux Regional Surgeons Perform Surgery with da Vinci System

THIBODAUX, LA, September 24, 2012 - A surgical team at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center performed their first da Vinci® Single-Site™ Cholecystectomy recently. The patient’s gallbladder was removed through one tiny incision in the belly button, making the procedure virtually scar less.

Led by Dr. Barry Landry, general surgeon, the team removed the gallbladder usingSingle-Site™ instruments on a da Vinci® System. The minimally invasive procedure is traditionally called a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder). Using robotic assistance, surgeons removed the gallbladder through an incision of approximately one inch.

The Food and Drug Administration cleared the specialized Single-Site instruments for use with the da Vinci System in December 2011. da Vinci is a robotic surgical system widely used in complex minimally invasive surgery.

In 2007, Thibodaux Regional was the only hospital in the Bayou Region and one of 600 centers in the world who acquired the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, a state-of-the-art minimally-invasive tool used to treat patients via robotic-assisted surgery,” stated Greg Stock, CEO of Thibodaux Regional. “Today, we remain at the forefront of minimally-invasive robotic surgery by acquiring this next generation system.”

"Neither robotic surgery nor single-incision surgery is new, but combining the two to remove the gallbladder requires additional training and special equipment," says Dr. Landry. "To be one of the first hospitals to offer this technically advanced surgery demonstrates Thibodaux Regional’s leadership in providing patients with the most up-to-date minimally invasive surgical options."

Single-Site instruments used with the da Vinci platform are the next step in the evolution of surgical technologies,” Dr. Landry said. “We are truly excited to be a leader today in the surgical treatment of tomorrow.”

Potential benefits of Single-Site gallbladder surgery may include virtually scar less results, minimal pain, low blood loss, fast recovery, a short hospital stay and high patient satisfaction. The surgery can be performed in about one hour with a typical hospital stay of less than 24 hours.

Unlike traditional robotic surgeries requiring three to five small incisions, this new technology allows for a single incision in the belly button where instruments are placed and the diseased gallbladder is removed.

Many people who require gallbladder removal are candidates for the robotic, single-incision surgery. According to the American College of Surgeons, surgery is the recommended treatment for gallbladder pain from gallstones and non-functioning gallbladders.

More than 1 million people in the U.S. have their gallbladder removed each year. Most are performed with traditional laparoscopy using several incisions.

Thibodaux Regional Health System offers various types of robotic-assisted surgeries. In addition to gallbladder removal, surgeons perform robotic-assisted surgery in gynecology and urology. Thibodaux Regional also offers a wide range of minimally invasive conventional laparoscopic surgeries.

For information on robotic and other minimally invasive surgeries at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center call 985.435.4870 or visit www.thibodaux.com.

Categories