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News Release May 24, 2007
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 | News Release May 24, 2007
Robot gives doctors at Regions a hand in surgery
St. Paul, Minn., May 24, 2007 Normally when a patient has open heart surgery, the recovery time is 8-12 weeks. But for Michael Hafele, 56, of Amery, Wis., this was not the case. Thanks to a robot named da Vinci, Hafele underwent minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery at Regions Hospital, foregoing open heart surgery and reducing his recovery time to just two weeks. It also meant less pain for Hafele and a quick return to his routine of daily walks on his treadmill and woodworking in his shop.
Regions is using the "da Vinci S Surgical System," a surgical robot that couples the surgeon's own skills with the precision of robotic technology. The system includes a surgeon's console, a cart located at the side of the patient with four interactive robotic arms, a high-performance 3-D vision system and surgical instruments that provide range of motion and dexterity exceeding that of a human.
Traditional open heart involves a long incision, and surgeons must split the breast bone to reach the heart. With the da Vinci robotic system, surgeons operate through four small incisions made between the ribs, so patients avoid the drawbacks of traditional heart surgery. The surgeon is seated at the console a few feet away from the patient, where they view an actual image of the surgery site and operate in real-time, through tiny incisions, with the robotically enhanced surgical instruments.
Most patients undergoing procedures performed with the robotic system will realize several benefits, including faster recovery times, shorter hospital stays and less pain, scarring, blood loss and risk of infection.
"The robotic system is revolutionizing heart surgery," said Goya Raikar, M.D., head of the hospital's cardiovascular surgery department. "It represents one more piece of our ongoing commitment to provide the best comprehensive care to our patients."
During the next several months, surgeons plan to use the system to perform mitral valve repair giving Regions Hospital the distinction of the first to perform this complicated cardiac procedure with the assistance of a robot. In addition, the hospital will use the system for treating prostate cancer and other urological, general, thoracic, and gynecological surgeries.
The da Vinci Surgical System is made by California-based Intuitive Surgical Systems.
Regions Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and teaching hospital serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin for more than 130 years. Regions is a private, non-profit hospital providing outstanding care in womens health, heart, cancer, surgery, orthopaedics, neuroscience, burn, emergency care and more. Regions is part of the HealthPartners family of care. Additional information is available at regionshospital.com.
Contact: 651-254-4730
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