CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System recently installed the next frontier for minimally invasive surgery, the da Vinci Xi® System, to continue providing groundbreaking robotic technology to residents of the Texarkana region.
The most advanced robotic surgical system, the Xi® is the second da Vinci system now available at CHRISTUS St. Michael. The first da Vinci system for CHRISTUS St. Michael was launched in June 2010 and then upgraded to the da Vinci®Si™ System. Benefits for patients can include shorter hospital stays, less blood loss, faster recovery, smaller incisions and less need for narcotic pain medication.
More than 1,709 da Vinci procedures have been performed at CHRISTUS St. Michael, and 11 physicians are certified to provide general, gynecologic, thoracic and urologic procedures.
“Performing these surgeries here in our community keeps patients closer to home,” said Carol Giese, MSN, RN, CNOR, CSSM, Administrative Director, Surgical Services CHRISTUS St Michael Health System. “Robotic surgeries produce less pain and scarring and allow patients to recover faster so they can get back to the activities they enjoy.”
The da Vinci Surgical System combines advanced, robotic, computer and optical technologies to assist the specially trained surgeons to perform a less invasive technique than more traditional “open” surgery for specific procedures such as colon resection, hernia repair, and foregut surgery. The system can also be used by specialty surgeons for urologic, general laparoscopic, gynecologic, thoracic and some types of heart surgery.
Powered by robotic technology, the da Vinci System allows the surgeon’s hand movements to be translated into smaller, precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body, according to Giese.
“One of the instruments, a laparoscope or thin tube with a tiny camera and light at the end, sends images to a video monitor in the operating room to guide surgeons during surgery,” explained Giese. “The surgeon is 100-percent in control of the da Vinci System at all times.”
“The scope and complexity of procedures and surgeries that can be performed with incredible precision using our da Vinci surgical systems at CHRISTUS St. Michael is truly exceptional,” said Jason Rounds, FACHE, CHFP, President, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System. “The addition of the second da Vinci System once again demonstrates our continued investment in serving the health care needs for the people of the Texarkana region. What is most important is what we can do for our patients with this technology. That’s really what our mission is all about: extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.”
For more information about Robotic Surgery, visit www.christushealth.org/sstmichael/services-treatments/robotic-surgery.
