4 minute read
Robotic Surgery: Experience Matters
Dr. Ashish Behari, a urologist and specialist in robotic-assisted surgery, using the latest da Vinci Surgical System.
ROBOTIC SURGERY: EXPERTISE WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH
With years of experience and advanced exper tise in the latest robotic surgery technologies, WellSpan Summit Health surgeons are enabling patients to recover faster, with less pain.
Robotic technology has surged in popularity in hospital operating rooms worldwide. In 2018, surgeons performed more than 1 million procedures aided by Intuitive’s da Vinci Surgical System, the most popular surgical robot. That’s a nearly 90 percent increase in 10 years. With many hospitals now beginning to offer robotic surgeries, it’s important to know your provider’s level of skill and experience.
Ashish Behari, MD HIGHLY SKILLED SURGEONS
At WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital, surgeons have been performing robotic procedures for a range of conditions for more
than a decade. The hospital got its fi rst da Vinci robot in 2010 and added the newest generation, the da Vinci Xi System in 2019. “Last year our surgeons completed over 500 robotic surgery procedures,” says Dr. Ashish Behari, a urologist and specialist in robotic-assisted surgery at WellSpan Urology. “We’re projecting 800 robotic surgery cases in 2020.”
Dr. Behari, who received advanced training in surgical robotics during his fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, has performed thousands of robotic surgeries over the past 13 years, the past fi ve at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital. “I use the robot for all of my kidney and prostate cancer-related procedures and for non-cancer procedures involving the reconstruction of the urinary tract,” he says.
GREATER PRECISION
A minimally invasive alternative to laparoscopic and open surgery, robotic surgery allows surgeons to access hard-to-reach places with greater precision, increased range of motion, and enhanced visualization.
In robotic surgery, the surgeon makes four small incisions through which robotic arms are inserted. Three arms are equipped with miniaturized surgical tools. The fourth has a stereoscopic high-defi nition camera. “You get a 3D view inside the patient that’s 10 times the magnifi cation of the naked eye,” says Dr. Behari. “Traditional laparoscopic surgery uses 2D monitors. 3D vision makes a dramatic difference in surgical technique and precision.”
The surgeon operates the robotic arms seated at a computer console near the operating table. The da Vinci translates the surgeon’s hand, wrist, and fi nger movements into precise movements of the instruments inside the patient. Da Vinci’s “fi refl y fl uorescence imaging” uses injectable dye to pinpoint structures, including cancer.
“Our newest robot, the da Vinci Xi, has enhanced arm technology that rotates and lets us do surgery in multiple quadrants,” says Dr. Behari. “That’s a big advantage for surgeries on the colon and kidneys.” He says improvements in instrumentation and functionality have become more refi ned over time. “The arms are longer and the reach is longer. The footprint, like everything else in technology, is smaller, making the robot easier to maneuver.”
ADVANTAGES FOR PATIENTS
Advancements in robotic surgery have brought new treatment options to more patients. In addition to Dr. Behari, robotic surgery is offered by a team of WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital general and gynecologic surgeons with specialty training in robotics.
CURRENT PROCEDURES Surgeons at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital currently are using the da Vinci robotic surgical system for these minimally invasive procedures:
GYNECOLOGICAL PROCEDURES • Uterus removal • Fallopian tubes/ (hysterectomy) ovary removal • Endometriosis (salpingo• Pelvic laparoscopy oophorectomy)
UROLOGICAL PROCEDURES • Kidney • Reconstruction of renal • Prostate pelvis (pyeloplasty) • Adrenalectomy • Ureteral reimplant • Bladder removal • Cryoablation for renal (radical cystectomy) masses
GENERAL PROCEDURES • Gallbladder removal • Colon • Hernia • Gastric bypass • Splenectomy • Sleeve gastrectomy
(See sidebar above for procedures.)
For patients who are eligible and choose robotic surgery, the da Vinci system offers several advantages over conventional surgery. Smaller incisions and better precision mean less pain after surgery. “There’s a decreased need for narcotics which helps prevent opioid abuse,” says Dr. Behari.
Because robotic surgery is minimally invasive, there’s less blood loss, less risk of developing infection, and minimal scarring. Other benefi ts include shorter hospital stays, and a quicker return to normal daily activities.
EXPERT CARE CLOSE TO HOME
As WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital continues to expand its robotic technology and expertise, Dr. Behari is most excited about the high-quality care this brings to the local community.
“Having the da Vinci robot gives our patients access to techniques they typically would have to travel to large university medical centers to get,” he says.
The personal touch patients feel at the hospital is also unique. “I’m your doctor from beginning to end,” says Dr. Behari. “There are no residents or trainees handling your care, as you often fi nd in a larger hospital. You’ll see me at offi ce appointments and before and after surgery. It’s the best of both worlds: a high level of expertise delivered in a personal way.”
