It seemed like yesterday when laparoscopic surgery was the newest, best technology during surgery. Patients were amazed at the tiny incisions surgeons made, and the pincher-type instruments and camera used to perform the surgery. Fast forward to 2018 and robotic surgery is quickly becoming the standard for surgical care. Lakes Regional Healthcare has also quickly adopted this new technology and is now the only hospital in northwest Iowa to provide comprehensive robotic surgery for a wide range of surgeries.
Specifically, their Mako robot allows them to provide total hip replacement, total knee replacement, and partial knee replacement surgeries robotically. Their recent purchase of the new da Vinci X robot allows them to provide several gynecological, urological, and general surgical surgeries, such as hernia repairs, hysterectomies, colon and bowel resections, and gallbladder removal.
During robotic surgery with the da Vinci robot, surgeons make a few small incisions and perform procedures using a high level of magnification and a camera to guide tiny “robotic” arms that perform the physical aspect of the surgery that is guided by the surgeon. “The robotic technology allows the ‘arms’ to move in several intricate ways instead of the simple back and forth, up and down moves provided by laparoscopic surgery,” said Dr. Jason Keonin of Northwest Iowa Surgeons.
The way the surgery is performed isn’t the only thing that has improved. Robotic surgery is more precise and results in shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, less pain, and a quicker return to normal activity.
For more information about robotic surgery at Lakes Regional Healthcare, talk to your local health care provider or call 712-336-8768.
