St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois, reportedly has become the only hospital in the Midwest to acquire a dual console da Vinci surgical robot, and one of three hospitals in the United States to purchase the new system, according to administrators.

 

The da Vinci is the latest robotic-assisted surgery system that gives surgeons an enhanced three-dimensional view of the operative field and greater flexibility to maneuver instruments during a minimally invasive procedure.

 

St. John's Hospital officials said that with the acquisition in late June of the dual console da Vinci, the hospital aims to be the Midwest leader in training for robotic surgery.

 

Officials opined that the acquisition of the new dual-console da Vinci SI Surgical System will allow greater collaboration for surgeons and enhance teaching opportunities at St. John's Hospital.

 

“With this technology, St. John's will attract the best and the brightest for training," said Bradley Schwartz, MD, the director for laparoscopy and endourology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, in a statement.

 

According to doctors and surgeons, patients benefit from robotic surgery as well. Less pain, smaller scars, and a quicker recovery time are all benefits from the da Vinci.

"Patients can get back to life faster," said Dave Schwabacher, RN, Robotics Coordinator at St. John's.

 

The new da Vinci SI launched nationally in April provides surgeons with precision, dexterity and control that allow for a minimally invasive approach to many complex surgical procedures. According to surgeons, the da Vinci robot allows them to operate through a console adjacent to the operating table.

 

Unlike normal laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon has a full-range of motion and the same direct eye-hand instrument alignment found in open surgery.

 

"The advantage to robotic surgery is that surgeons can operate in a very small incision as if our hands are right there," said Schwartz.