GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – A local healthcare provider is celebrating a milestone.
Bellin Health officials say they recently completed their 5-thousandth robotic-assisted surgery, which they first implemented in 2005.
The procedure involves making small incisions to allow for the insertion of viewing scopes and thin arms with tiny surgical instruments.
A surgeon sits at a separate console to control instruments by hand and foot controls, while looking through a magnified 3D high-definition vision system.
Health officials say the tools bend and rotate much better than the human hand, allowing for greater control and precision.
Vice-President of Anesthesia and Surgery Lori Rexses says that all leads to multiple benefits for patients.
“It results in a reduced amount of pain, blood loss, and early return to normal activity.”
Rexses notes robotic surgery allows Bellin to reduce costs for clients.
“Patients don’t need to stay as long in the hospital. We see a reduction in complications and also a reduction in emergency room visits.”
Rexses says the typical outcomes of a robotic surgery separate it from even those procedures that are the most similar.
“Between a laparoscopic procedure and a case that is done with the robot, the length of stay is even shorter (when the robot is used).”
Rexses notes it also normally results in less pain for patients and allows Bellin to take on more complex cases than they could if only offering the laparoscopic route.
She says it is the preferred treatment for many procedures including: partial nephrectomies to treat kidney cancer, hysterectomies, many pelvic-floor surgeries, and hernia repair surgeries.
Robotic Coordinator Alecia Van Lanen notes one of Bellin’s greatest robotics success stories.
“One of surgeons did a hysterectomy case on a patient. That very night, she was able to go to her child’s football game.”
Bellin now has three robotics units: two at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay and one at Bellin Health Oconto Hospital.
Nearly two dozen surgeons perform robotic surgeries at Bellin facilities.
