A Glimpse of Excellence: Chopping-Edge Robotic-Assisted Surgical procedure at Harris Well being Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital

Robotic-assisted surgical procedures have been on the rise, particularly in personal hospitals, the place the price of the expertise is often handed on to sufferers. Whereas publicly funded healthcare techniques are inclined to keep away from costly purchases altogether, Harris Well being System makes use of a cost-benefit evaluation and evidence-based follow to guage new expertise like robotic-assisted surgical procedure techniques to see how its use can profit sufferers and produce higher well being outcomes.

Harris Well being has persistently demonstrated a need to be on the vanguard of medication. As a safety-net public healthcare system charged with caring for all residents of Harris County no matter financial standing, the arrival of Da Vinci XI Surgical procedure Robotic System, the state-of-the-art robotic-assisted surgical procedure expertise, highlights Harris Well being’s dedication to offering glorious care to the inhabitants it serves.

Erik Askenasy, MD

“One of many targets of Harris Well being is to increase entry to the best high quality care to our sufferers,” says Erik Askenasy, MD, colon and rectal surgeon, Harris Well being Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital and affiliate professor of surgical procedure, McGovern Medical College at UTHealth Houston. He’s an professional at robotic-assisted surgical procedures and a Da Vinci system proctor tasked with educating the thrilling expertise to different hospital employees.

“The employees loves the Da Vinci; it’s a chance for them to be taught cutting-edge expertise,” says Renee McElligott, nursing director, LBJ Hospital. She’s been serving sufferers at Harris Well being for the final 25 years and has watched the system develop into an innovator in affected person care supply. “I find it irresistible for our sufferers; robotic-assisted surgical procedure is usually the best choice for a affected person no matter insurance coverage.”

The Da Vinci system was extensively vetted earlier than touchdown at Harris Well being LBJ Hospital and proved to carry actual advantages for sufferers and hospitals. Whereas Harris Well being used the system particularly for minimally invasive belly surgical procedures historically accomplished laparoscopically, Askenasy notes that robotic-assisted surgical procedures can be utilized in all kinds of functions and predicts extra surgical procedures can be carried out with robotic help sooner or later. Use of the robotic system permits surgeons to enhance affected person procedures for normal surgical procedure, obstetrics and urology circumstances by lowering ache, decreasing the danger of infections or problems, much less blood loss, shorter hospitals stays and faster recoveries.   

Renee McElligott

So, what’s robotic-assisted surgical procedure? And why is it so modern? Askenasy and McElligott stroll us by every little thing it’s essential know.

Not like what many individuals think about, robotic-assisted surgical procedure will not be surgical procedure carried out independently by a robotic. “There isn’t a autonomous perform of the robotic; it’s not a Tesla,” laughs Askenasy. Slightly, robotic-assisted surgical procedure is extra just like an Oculus digital actuality headset. The surgeon sits at a console and is immersed by a 3D digital camera within the operative discipline. Each motion by the robotic instruments measuring in millimeters is instantly managed by the surgeon.

“I’m in charge of all features always,” Askenasy says. “The robotics permit my actions to be extra exact, extra correct and higher visualized.”

Whereas the surgeon is interacting through the system, the nursing employees is bedside with the affected person helping the process and supporting the affected person – as McElligott places it — similar to in a conventional working room setting.

The benefits of robotic-assisted surgical procedure are many. First, utilizing tiny devices permits advanced surgical procedures to be accomplished with minimal invasiveness. Like laparoscopic surgical procedure, solely small incisions are wanted to carry out robotic-assisted surgical procedures. The potential problems and elevated restoration time of open surgical procedure are thereby prevented. As a substitute, the affected person is out and in of the hospital faster, with some sufferers even leaving the identical day because the process.

Second, with an professional surgeon controlling the robotics, the precision of the process is magnified. The robotics can work in tight areas with an unbelievable accuracy that’s inconceivable to duplicate with human palms. This makes the surgical procedures simply as secure, if not safer, than conventional surgical procedure whereas additionally producing extra optimistic well being outcomes. It even reduces some surgical procedures that had been as soon as open surgical procedures – like colorectal operations and colostomy reversals – to minimally-invasive procedures.

Third, due to the standard of the procedures carried out, far fewer sufferers want readmittance from problems that may come up from conventional surgical procedures. Whereas the robotic-assisted surgical procedure might take a bit longer, the time saved by quickened restoration and decreased hospital readmission means sufferers are dwelling sooner and extra medical assets – like hospital beds and employees – are made obtainable to others in want. All this quantities to higher general well being outcomes for sufferers and diminished prices for hospitals, a win-win.

“It’s about much less ache and fewer restoration time,” says McElligott of the procedures Harris Well being now gives. “If I needed to have surgical procedure and it was potential to be accomplished robotically, I’d need it accomplished that means.”

“What’s thrilling and provoking is that with robotic-assisted surgical procedure, we are able to now supply our sufferers the highest-quality care obtainable anyplace,” Askenasy provides. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be on the forefront of the expertise that our sufferers deserve.” 

This glimpse of excellence into the thrilling improvements at Harris Well being has huge implications. The work of care suppliers like Askenasy and McElligott is a part of a wider effort by Harris Well being to showcase the advances and cutting-edge expertise obtainable to sufferers by the general public healthcare system. By a glimpse of the Da Vinci system and different use of rising medical expertise, Askenasy hopes to enlighten the neighborhood to the top-of-the-line medical care obtainable to all at Harris Well being.

“I’m actually pleased with Harris Well being for figuring out that robotic-assisted surgical procedure is a worthwhile endeavor,” he says. “It took lots of laborious work to get these machines and Harris Well being did their due diligence. Our program is seeing nice outcomes and we hope to develop this system sooner or later.”