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Patient Testimonials
Patients who experience robotic-assisted surgery are raving about how much quicker they get back to their normal activities. Read below for more:
A Night and Day Difference
 For hysterectomy patient Darla G., having a hysterectomy performed robotically has been "a breeze." According to Darla, "I had traditional surgery five years ago where they used a long incision to remove fibroids. I was in horrible pain from the surgery. This time, using the robotic procedure, it has been a night and day difference. It was a very good experience with minimal pain."
Darla had her hysterectomy performed in October 2008 and was released home the same day as her surgery with minimal restrictions. She hopes to be back to work in appoximately 2-4 weeks versus the six to eight week recovery that is normally associated with a more traditional surgery. According to Darla, "da Vinci surgery is the way to go. I was able to be released the same day as my surgery and sleep in my own bed and pajamas. I felt very comfortable with Dr. Sharpe and the robot."
Less Pain, Faster Recovery
 Michael H., 56, underwent a minimally invasive coronary artery bypass in March 2007. Thanks to cardiac surgeon Goya Raikar, MD, and Regions Hospitals da Vinci robotic system®, Michael was discharged from the hospital in three days and able to return to his favorite hobbies of walking and woodworking in less than 14 days.
In deciding whether to opt for the new robotic-assisted surgery or undergo traditional open heart surgery, Michael noted, "I remembered seeing these open heart surgery patients who were my age...walking around the hospital unit as if they were old men, hugging their pillows when they coughed to reduce the pain. I didn't want to be one of those patients."
Traditional open heart surgery involves a long incision and surgeons must split the breastbone to reach the heart. With the robotic system, surgeons operate through four tiny incisions made between the ribs, so patients avoid the drawbacks of traditional surgery, including long, painful recovery times of up to 12 weeks.
Within six weeks of his operation, Michael was back to work as a banker in Amery, Wisconsin. "I owe my amazing results to Dr. Raikar and this new procedure," says Michael.
Feeling Great
 Clay B. had surgery at Regions Hospital in September 2007 to repair a valve in his heart. The 60-year-old from Turtle Lake, Wis., is not unlike the thousands of people in the area who have procedures like this every year. But what's different about Barritt is that he had a robot assist in his surgery - a procedure available only at Regions.
"We did a lot of research and knew that this was the route we wanted to go because of the faster recovery time," said Barritt. "I was sitting up in my bed three hours after surgery. That's amazing."
For Clay and his wife, Carol, that means they can keep their plans to head to their winter home in Florida. "With traditional open heart surgery, I would have spent weeks at home recovering from the operation. With the da Vinci surgery, I can now look forward to spending the winter in Florida doing activities I truly enjoy."
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