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For Immediate Release 6/21/2010

Holly Hosler 410-601-8678

Surgeons Now Offer Robotic Surgery at Northwest Hospital

Northwest Hospital now offers minimally invasive robotic surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical System. Currently, surgeons at the hospital are using the system to perform gynecologic and urologic procedures as well as general surgery. "Robotic technology makes minimally invasive surgery easier and safer to perform,” says David L. Zisow, M.D., associate director of the hospital's Division of Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery. "The 3-D vision the system provides allows a far superior visual of the operative field, and the fully ‘wristed' movements – not possible with traditional laparoscopic methods – make otherwise complex procedures relatively simple and straightforward to perform. Da Vinci technology gives surgeons currently only able to perform large incision surgery the ability to offer their patients a minimally invasive alternative.” Additional benefits of minimally invasive surgery are less pain and scarring, fewer complications, and faster recovery times. Using the da Vinci Surgical System, surgeons operate while they are seated comfortably at a console and view a 3-D image of the surgical field. The surgeon's fingers grasp the master controls below the display, with hands and wrists naturally positioned relative to his or her eyes. The robotic system seamlessly translates motions of the surgeon's hand, wrist and fingers into precise, real-time movements of the surgical instruments inside the patient. "The da Vinci will give more surgeons the ability to perform minimally invasive procedures with one of the most advanced forms of technology available,” says Erik Wexler, hospital president. "Northwest Hospital's da Vinci is the only one in our corner of Baltimore County and the closest to Carroll County residents. We expect that many surgeons will come here to be trained on it. Ultimately, this means that more patients will be able to reap the benefits of robotic minimally invasive surgery.” The da Vinci Surgical System allows physicians to more confidently perform minimally invasive surgery because it gives the surgeon a full range of motion. Patients may experience the following benefits: reduced trauma to the body, reduced blood loss and need for transfusions, less postoperative pain and discomfort, a lowered risk of infection, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and return to normal activities, and less scarring and improved cosmetic outcomes. Northwest Hospital has been a leader in minimally invasive surgery for many years. W. Peter Geis, M.D., who heads the hospital's Division of Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Surgery, was an early pioneer of laparoscopic surgery in the United States. Geis has established a fellowship program at Northwest Hospital through which he trains other surgeons in these techniques. Also, so far he and Alan S. Davis, M.D., the hospital's chief of surgery, have performed over 50 single-port surgeries at Northwest in which the patient only undergoes one incision – commonly made in the navel so the small scar left behind is almost unnoticeable. Geis will also be using the da Vinci Surgical System for some of his procedures. Northwest Hospital is a part of LifeBridge Health, one of Baltimore's largest health organizations that also includes Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, and Courtland Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. For more information, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org. More News...