Good Samaritan Hospital Performs Dayton's First Robotic Single Site Gallbladder Surgery

Online, July 24, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Good Samaritan Hospital announced today that it is the first and currently only hospital in Dayton to offer robotic-assisted, single site gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy). Michelle R. DeGroat, MD, assisted by James E. deCaestecker, DO, removed a diseased gallbladder through a patient's belly button using Single-Site™ Robotic Assisted Surgery instrumentation in conjunction with the da Vinci® Si Surgical System. In December 2011, cholecystectomies became the first single site procedure for the robot to gain FDA approval.

"To be the first hospital in Dayton to offer this technically advanced surgery demonstrates Good Sam's leadership and commitment to providing patients with the latest, minimally invasive surgical options," remarked Eloise Broner, Good Samaritan Hospital President and CEO.

During a robotic assisted cholecystectomy, the surgeon sits at a console viewing three dimensional, high-definition images of the surgical field while using controls below the display to guide robotics arms with attached surgical instruments. The system translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements into precise, real-time movements of surgical instruments inside the patient. This new procedure enables the surgeon to guide the flexible instruments through a single umbilical incision (less than an inch in length), to facilitate removal of the gallbladder. This is in contrast from the traditional laparoscopic procedure that requires 4 incisions.

"Fewer incisions are generally better for patients. Utilizing the latest robotic technology, one incision means less tissue trauma and therefore less risk of infection and minimal scarring - enhancing quality and safety and improving the patient experience," stated Dr. DeGroat. "Each individual needs to be evaluated to determine if this procedure could work for them. If they are a candidate, the precision of the instruments and visual detail is a significant advancement and provides all the benefits of minimally invasive surgery while improving the overall outcome."

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that sits just below the liver on the upper-right side of the abdomen that collects and stores bile -digestive fluid produced in the liver. According to the American College of Surgeons, surgery is the recommended treatment for gallbladder pain from gallstones and nonfunctioning gallbladders. Gallbladder removal is one of the most widely performed surgeries in the U.S. with approximately 1.2 million patients undergoing the procedure each year.

Surgeons at Good Samaritan Hospital currently utilize advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques such as the robotic surgical approach for the treatment of gynecologic disorders, bladder and pelvic health issues, urology and general surgery.

To learn more about robotic-assisted surgery, please visit www.GoodSamDayton.org/robotic.