Baptist Medical Center South Brings da Vinci? Robot Technology to the Southside

Jacksonville, Florida, February 24, 2011 -- Baptist Medical Center South has added a da Vinci? SI Robot to its surgical capabilities. The sophisticated robotic platform is designed to improve a surgeon's capability to perform complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach.

The da Vinci? Robotic Surgical System will initially be used for gynecologic and urology surgeries at Baptist South. Reproductive endocrinologist Travis McCoy, MD, performed the first robotic surgery at the hospital on February 11.

The SI Robot provides surgeons with superior 3D visualization, improved dexterity and improved precision. "It becomes an extension of my own arms and hands," said Dr. McCoy.

The da Vinci? system consists of an ergonomic surgeon's console, a patient-side cart with three interactive robotic arms, a high-performance 3D HD vision system and EndoWrist? instruments. The system is designed to scale, filter and seamlessly translate the surgeon's hand movements into the precise movements of the EndoWrist? instruments.

There are many potential benefits for patients having this kind of minimally invasive surgery. "All of the risks of an open surgery are minimized," said gynecologic oncologist Stephen Buckley, MD, "Patients experience less blood loss, smaller incisions and less pain. There are shorter hospital stays, and recovery times are significantly shorter."

With this advanced technology now at Baptist South, patients have even more options for minimally invasive surgery in their own community. "Patients will be able to get all of the benefits of laparoscopic surgery for cases that would otherwise be too complicated to do with traditional laparoscopic instruments or in cases that are traditionally performed as open procedures that don't have to be done that way anymore," said Dr. McCoy.