Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery One of First in United States to Use New Surgical Platform.
On Friday, Jan. 20, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center was the first in Texas—and one of the first in the nation—to perform Single-Site da Vinci robotic surgery to remove a gallbladder from a patient.
Francis Buzad, M.D., a sugeon with the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery and the Austin Diagnostic Clinic, performed the procedure on three patients using this revolutionary, FDA-approved platform. He was assisted by Louis Corne, M.D., and a surgical team from St. David’s North Austin Medical Center. With a single incision that is less than one inch made through the belly button, Dr. Buzad removed each patient’s gallbladder in less than 60 minutes.
“This new da Vinci platform has made a minimally invasive surgery even less invasive,” Thomas Payne, M.D., Medical Director of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, said. “The Single-Site da Vinci robotic platform is the next step in the natural progression of surgical technologies, and we are truly excited to be a leader today in the surgical platforms of tomorrow.”
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. received FDA approval on the new operating platform specifically for cholecystectomy procedures, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. The system enables surgeons to reduce the traditional number of incisions from four, down to one incision that is less than an inch in length.
“This Single-Site da Vinci robotic platform provides surgeons with amazing dexterity, control, and high-definition 3D vision, resulting in a surgical procedure with less scarring, minimal pain and a rapid recovery for patients,” said Dr. Buzad. “I am honored to be one of the first in the nation to be able to offer this significant surgical advancement to my patients who require gallbladder removal.”
The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery and Dr. Buzad were selected specifically by Intuitive Surgical to be among the first in the nation to use this new da Vinci platform, which will become available to the rest of the country over the next few months.
The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center was launched in March 2011. It features an educational epicenter teaching best practices for hospital leadership, surgeons and surgical teams involved in the delivery of robotic-assisted da Vinci surgery. The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery is an international treatment, training and research center that combines excellence in robotic-assisted surgery and outcomes with education and training.
St. David’s North Austin Medical Center
St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, located at 12221 North Mopac Expressway, is part of St. David’s HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters in January 2012. The 332-bed multi-specialty, acute care facility is dedicated to the highest level of women’s health services, including maternity and newborn care with Level I, II and III nurseries at the adjacent St. David’s Women’s Center of Texas, as well as a 24-hour emergency department, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, heart and vascular center, neurology and neurosurgery, a kidney transplant program, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, among many others. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.