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Region's First Surgery Using da Vinci® XI™ Surgical Robot Performed at Temple University Hospital

News July 28, 2014

Temple University Hospital has performed the Philadelphia region's first surgery using the new da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical System. Surgeons at Temple successfully performed a minimally invasive robotic mitral valve repair using the da Vinci Xi on July 22. The new technology has broader capabilities than prior generations of surgical robots.

"We are proud to be leading the way in the use of this exciting new technology," said T. Sloane Guy, MD, MBA, Chief of Robotic Surgery and Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at Temple University Hospital (TUH), who performed the mitral valve repair.

The team at TUH was only the second in the country to perform a cardiac surgery using the new technology. The first was a team in New York.

The da Vinci Xi System, manufactured by Intuitive Surgical, Inc. offers revolutionary anatomical access and crystal clear 3-dimensional, high-definition vision, and provides patients with an advanced minimally-invasive alternative to open surgery. The surgical robot allows Temple surgeons to perform operations through tiny keyhole incisions, with potential benefits to patients being less blood loss, less pain, less time required on a ventilator, less chance of infection, quicker healing time, smaller scars and shorter hospital stays.

The new da Vinci Xi System has several key features which are not available on existing robotic surgical systems, including:

  • A new patient cart designed to allow access to the patient's anatomy from virtually any position.
  • A new endoscope digital architecture that creates a simpler, more compact design with improved visual definition.
  • The ability to attach the endoscope to any arm of the system, which provides greater flexibility for visualizing the surgical site.
  • Smaller, thinner arms with newly designed joints that offer a greater range of motion than ever before.
  • Longer instrument shafts designed to give surgeons greater operative reach.
  • Temple will soon expand its use of the da Vinci Xi to other specialties, including urology, thoracic surgery and colorectal surgery.

"Temple University Hospital is home to one of the country's most skilled and experienced robotic surgical teams," said Dr. Guy. "This new technology further establishes Temple as a national and regional leader in robotic surgery."

Editor's Note: Neither Dr. Guy nor any member of his immediate family has financial interest in Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
 
Image: © 2014 Intuitive Surgical, Inc.