{"id":1970,"date":"2022-11-15T02:22:06","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T02:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aldiatodayusa.com\/?p=1970"},"modified":"2022-11-15T02:22:06","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T02:22:06","slug":"health-first-associates-and-patients-test-drive-new-robotic-surgery-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/2022\/11\/15\/health-first-associates-and-patients-test-drive-new-robotic-surgery-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Health First associates and patients \u201ctest drive\u201d new robotic surgery technology"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Special<\/em>
For AL DIA TODAY<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PALM BAY \u2014 It doesn\u2019t have a steering wheel (or seat belts). You can\u2019t take it out on I-95. And it won\u2019t even top one mile per hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Health First\u2019s Palm Bay Hospital associates, visitors and patients had an opportunity on Wednesday to \u201ctest drive\u201d the hospital\u2019s new da Vinci Xi robotic surgery technology \u2013 bringing to seven the total number of robotic surgery units in the Health First network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surgeon Dr. Mohamad Hammoud said that the event at Palm Bay Hospital was a natural way for Health First to better educate the public on the availability and benefits of the minimally invasive surgical technology <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnveiling and sharing this technology today with our associates, visitors and patients is an excellent way to educate them on the benefits of robotic surgery,\u201d said Dr. Hammoud. \u201cWellness and healing begin with education and communication, and there is no better way to share information than a hands-on opportunity. This is a lot of fun for our associates, and we want them to be excited and proud of the technology we offer at Palm Bay Hospital and Health First.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robotic surgery is not exactly a new concept \u2013 it\u2019s actually been in existence for approximately 25 years \u2013 but the technology continues to improve and expand in use across the U.S. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Health First has offered robotic surgery in Brevard County since 2014, and more than 12,000 surgeries have already been successfully performed. Patients who undergo robotics-assisted surgeries have a length-of-stay in a Health First hospital of approximately 1.5 days vs. national average for standard, large incision \u201copen\u201d surgeries of 5 -to-15 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Dr. Hammoud, the minimally-invasive precursor to robotic surgery was laparoscopic surgery, which utilized much smaller incisions, along with smaller specialized surgical tools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With robotic surgery, the surgeon makes tiny incisions (laparoscopic) and inserts miniaturized instruments \u2013 including a tiny a high-definition three-dimensional camera. From a nearby (videogame-like) console, the surgeon manipulates the robot\u2019s attached arms\/devices. The robot translates the surgeon\u2019s movements in real-time, mimicking moves precisely on the screen. The surgeon is in control the whole time – the robot responds to the direction she or he makes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLaparoscopic eliminated the need for large incisions during surgery,\u201d said Dr. Hammoud. The smaller the incisions, the better recovery for the patient. Minimally invasive surgery reduces pain, blood loss and scarring. Patients leave the hospital and get back to their daily lives sooner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRobotic surgery is the evolution of laparoscopy, Dr. Hammoud continued. \u201cThe robot is an accessory tool that you have at your fingertips to make surgery a lot easier \u2013 and safer. I\u2019m still the surgeon. The robot is not doing anything on its own. I have to control it – but it allows me to have tools and autonomy that I wouldn\u2019t ordinarily have in a very tightly controlled space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only does robotic surgery improve surgical outcomes, it is also a tremendous gamechanger for the surgeon. Prior to laparoscopic and robotic technology, a surgery \u2013 such as a hernia repair operation \u2013 could take two hours or more. In some of these surgeries, the surgeon spends hours standing and\/or bending over the patient and surgery site, which over time becomes uncomfortable and tiresome. Robotic surgery cuts the surgery time dramatically, while the surgeon remains seated at the console.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a lot of fatigue in surgery. How does this help you perform as a surgeon? Historically as surgeons, we never want to think about ourselves. We always want to take care of the patient and make sure we perform the procedure safely. But the reality is, if you\u2019re standing, bending for 8 hours or more each day doing surgeries, it does naturally take a toll over time physically and mentally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAgain, we are now able to perform many procedures safely in a fraction of time \u2013 which benefits the patient in many ways, as we\u2019ve outlined. But it will also be a gamechanger for the future of surgery and surgeons by removing the physical effects on the surgeon over time \u2013 allowing them to continue performing surgeries perhaps much longer than they might otherwise. And\u2026. this technology actually makes surgery fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although robotic surgery is not an option at this time for all surgical procedures, it continues to evolve. In addition, there are still many surgeons who have not yet adopted the newer technology. Dr. Hammoud recommends patients needing surgery ask about robotic surgery as an option from their surgeon \u2013 or seek a second opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, an educated and informed patient is the best kind of patient,\u201d said Dr. Hammoud. \u201cWe want our patients and their loved ones to be informed and gather as much information they can, ask questions, and understand their options. It certainly makes them more comfortable and at ease with the process, and we feel better knowing they are fully on board.\u201d  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SpecialFor AL DIA TODAY PALM BAY \u2014 It doesn\u2019t have a steering wheel (or seat belts). You can\u2019t take it out on I-95. And it won\u2019t even top one mile per hour.\u00a0 But Health First\u2019s […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1971,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,36,6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1970","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-community","8":"category-family","9":"category-health"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/daVinci1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1970"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1970\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aldiatoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}