Published: November 20, 2008 02:03 pm      

Robot-assisted surgeries available

Da Vinci Surgical System unveiled at Bassett

By MICHELLE MILLER
Staff Writer

Patients will no longer have to travel long distances to get the most innovative treatments available for prostate cancer and other procedures.

Bassett Hospital’s surgical team is now offering robot-assisted surgery through its da Vinci Surgical System, which recently made its debut with the successful removal of a man’s prostate gland.

Like laparoscopic surgery, the da Vinci system requires only small incisions to be made, compared to the large incisions of the past.

Steven Heneghan, chief of surgery at Bassett Healthcare, said the benefits of this type of surgery to patients are enormous.

``Patients want the least-invasive surgical treatment option available, and now they won’t have to travel to Albany or Syracuse to get it,’’ he said.

Dr. Carlos Bermejo, an urologist and surgeon who is trained in using the da Vinci system joined Bassett Healthcare three months ago. He performed the first prostate cancer operation at Bassett using the technology.

Robotic technology, as it’s used in prostate surgery, gives the patient their best chance at preserving potency and continence, said Bermejo. Other advantages of this technology include it being a less invasive procedure, with a resultant shorter hospital stay, less pain and scarring, less blood loss and a quicker return to daily activities, he said.

In addition to prostatectomies, surgeons at Bassett will be using robotic-assisted surgery in the treatment of other cancers including head, neck and rectal. There will also be some general surgical applications— soon to follow will be heart related procedures such as valve repair, coronary bypass and arrhythmia surgery.

``We look forward to expanding the number of specialties using this computer-assisted system in the coming months,’’ said Heneghan.

Heneghan said some people may have concerns when knowing a machine is involved with the surgery.

However, he said the word ``robot’’ is a misnomer because there are no independent motions initiated by the instrument. All the motions are translations of the surgeon’s movements, he said.

``It’s like breaking in a new car,’’ said Heneghan. The system’s robotic arms are equipped with a camera and surgical instruments that are controlled by a surgeon using a console at a separate station.

The system was initially designed for heart surgery, but according to Bermejo, surgeons started favoring it for prostatectomies and gynecological procedures, such as hysterectomies. Unlike open surgery or more traditional laparoscopic surgery, the system eliminates hand tremors, Bermejo said.

``The results are very encouraging, to the point where a lot of surgeons in the country are changing to this new technology,’’ Bermejo said.

Doctor’s hands do not directly touch the instruments unlike conventional surgery. Rather, the surgeon’s hands are at the controls of a computerized robotic platform, which allows the manipulation of surgical instruments. Each time one of the controls is moved, a computer sends an electronic signal to one of the instruments, which moves in sync with the movements of the surgeon’s hands.

The system is portable so that it can be utilized in different operating rooms if needed.

The public will have a chance to view the technology and “test drive” the da Vinci system at Sangertown Square Mall in New Hartford at 10 a.m. Saturday. The da Vinci robot display will be in the Macy’s wing.