Surgeons Use da Vinci Surgical System to Perform Surgeries as Detailed as the Mona Lisa

Oct. 20, 2010 - PRLog -- After closely studying patient outcomes, assessing the community benefits and assembling a team of surgeons and operating room nurses who had mastered the technology, South Nassau Communities Hospital recently introduced the da Vinci® Surgical System and successfully completed its first robotic-assisted surgery.

The number of robotic-assisted procedures performed at hospitals around the world has increased from 80,000 in 2007 to 205,000 in 2009.  “During that time surgeons and administrators at South Nassau studied the patient outcomes of procedures as well as the safety, efficacy and evolution of robotic surgical technology,” said Joseph A. Quagliata, president and CEO of South Nassau.

Once the da Vinci System passed South Nassau’s rigorous assessment and proved that the communities and patients would benefit from it, staff surgeons completed intensive training on the system; operating room nurses devoted extensive hours to learn the capabilities and functions of the technology; and a specialist in robotic-assisted surgery joined the medical staff to lead the introduction and development of robotic-assisted surgical services.

Recognized as the world’s most advanced robotic surgical technology, the da Vinci received its name in recognition and honor of Leonardo da Vinci, who invented the first robot and used incomparable accuracy and three-dimensional details to bring his masterpieces to life.  In like fashion, the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System helps surgeons perform complex surgeries with refined dexterity, precision and control, through small incisions.

Patient benefits of robotic-assisted surgery include a shorter hospital stay; reduced pain and risk of infection; less blood loss and scarring; fewer transfusions; faster post-operative recovery; and a quicker return to normal daily activities.  In addition to the precision and control, benefits for surgeons include increased range of motion, enhanced visualization and improved access.

David A. Silver, M.D, FACS, who also serves as director of urologic oncology at South Nassau, is spearheading the hospital’s introduction and development of robotic-assisted surgical services.  Dr. Silver is one of the region’s most experienced and accomplished robotic surgeons and a leading surgical oncologist.  A specialist in treating cancer of the prostate, adrenal glands, kidneys, and bladder, Dr. Silver also has expertise in treating hematuria and PSA abnormalities; kidney-sparing surgery for renal tumors; cystectomy with continent urinary diversion; testicular tumor surgery and multimodal management of bladder and prostate cancer.

Robotic-assisted surgery is most commonly used to treat men diagnosed with early prostate cancer.  Dr. Silver and South Nassau surgeons will also use the da Vinci to perform general, urologic, gynecologic, kidney and chest procedures.

“At South Nassau we are committed to providing the South Shore communities with standard-setting, leading-edge surgical services and programs,” said Rajiv Datta, M.D., chair of the department of surgery and medical director of the Cancer Center at South Nassau.  “The da Vinci and Dr. Silver are a reflection of that commitment, and we are confident that both will help the hospital build on its tradition of providing standard-setting, advanced healthcare so that the residents of the communities we serve don’t have to travel out of the area to access the services they need.”

# # #

South Nassau Communities Hospital is one of the region’s largest hospitals, with 435 beds, more than 875 physicians and 2,800 employees. Located in Oceanside, NY, the hospital is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health and emergency services. In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, South Nassau boasts Long Island’s first and only Gamma Knifeâ and Novalis Tx radiosurgery technologies and provides emergency and elective angioplasty. South Nassau is a designated Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons, and is recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. For more information, visit www.southnassau.org.