Munson Cadillac has the first surgical robot, unveiling it at an open house | Information

CADILLAC — With the recent purchase of the da Vinci XI surgical robot, Cadillac Healthcare Munson Hospital is poised to provide 21st century surgical care to its patients.

The surgical robot was unveiled Wednesday during an open house for the Munson Healthcare Cadillac Foundation Board of Trustees and the Munson Cadillac Hospital Community Health Council. The robot has been helping Munson surgeons since early February and has been part of 50 to 60 procedures.

The robot helps in gynaecology, urology and general surgery.

During the open house, attendees got to control the robot and see for themselves what it’s like during surgery using the robot. In this case, however, the goal was not to perform a hysterectomy or hernia but to remove a small ball from one area and place it safely in another area.

The investment of 2 million dollars for the first robot in the Cadillac hospital was made possible through the donation of Harvey Pell and after the foundation approved to use the money to buy the robot.

Dr. Kent Bowden is a board-certified general surgeon and has been using the da Vinci robot since February. He said there are many benefits of using it in surgery.

“The most distinct advantage of open surgery is that you can get better tissue play. You can get better cohesion of the minute tissue with suturing and cautery,†he said. “Compared to traditional laparoscopy, you can see everything you do in three dimensions. You can move and look quietly and you don’t have to have someone else holding the camera for you.â

Bowden said it reduces pain and recovery time for patients and is less invasive because smaller incisions are made instead of the larger ones required for open surgery.

For OB/GYN Dr. Diana Curran, using robots has been something she has done since 2005, so having the technology available now at Cadillac is welcome. Before coming to Cadillac, Curran was a professor and director of residence at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

“It helps me do minimal surgery on very difficult cases that I would otherwise have to operate on. As (Bowden) has already been mentioned, there is less pain and a faster recovery,†he said.

Curran said she had a patient come into the Cadillac OB/GYN Clinic recently who was two weeks out from robotic surgery. He said the patient already felt like he could return to his normal state.

Minimally invasive robotic surgery comes with additional benefits, including reduced blood loss during the procedure, faster recovery time and less scarring due to smaller incisions. So far, four local providers are performing procedures with the da Vinci XI, including Curran and Bowden and Dr. Mackenzie Tremp, Cadillac OB/GYN, and Jack Zuckerman, Cadillac Urology.

The hope is that the number will continue to increase and that the robot will be a tool to recruit young doctors in the area.

Cristen Brandsma is the Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer at the hospital and said the availability of the robot will certainly help recruit new doctors in the area.

He said in three specialties, gynecology, urology and general surgery, when new doctors leave their homes, they have been given robot training. That is especially true in urology.

“You won’t find a urologist for maybe five to 10 years after you leave home unless you have a robot. They won’t come because they can’t (remove prostration), (remove the kidneys) and big cases that are important to them,†said Brandsma. “So it’s very important because we need to get young surgeons interested in Cadillac. It’s a game changer.â€

The da Vinci XI system interprets every hand movement the surgeon makes in real time to bend and rotate the instruments with great precision. Every surgeon is specially trained to use robotics and an increasing number of residency training programs now include robotics as part of the standard training for surgeons.

Robotic systems typically come equipped with high-definition, 3D cameras, giving surgeons a magnified and detailed view of the surgical site. This enhanced visualization can be particularly useful in complex procedures.

Robotic arms offer a greater range of motion compared to a human arm, allowing surgeons to reach and operate in hard-to-reach areas more efficiently. Some advanced robotic systems provide tactile feedback to surgeons, allowing them to feel pressure and tissue resistance during surgery. This can increase the surgeon’s ability to perform delicate maneuvers.

Finally, robotic surgery consoles are designed to provide ergonomic comfort to surgeons during long procedures. This can reduce the fatigue of the surgeon and contribute to the overall efficiency of the procedure.