BROWNSVILLE, Texas - DHR Health Brownsville invited the community to come and see its new state-of-the-art da Vinci 5 robotic-assisted surgical system.
Students from Brownsville who want to go into the healthcare arena were also invited and got to practice on the new equipment, with help from Brianna Alvarado, a clinical sales representative from Intuitive, makers of the da Vinci robot.
Physicians were also present to demonstrate how the system is used during surgery to interested individuals. The equipment was set up in the hospital’s reception area.
Dr. Karen Brooks, director of general surgery and quality at DHR Health Brownsville, said the new system is aimed at enhancing surgeon precision and improving patient outcomes.
With the da Vinci 5, Brooks said, surgeons maintain full control, as the robotic system translates their hand movements into the precise manipulation of tiny instruments.
She said the advanced technology is designed to assist with various minimally invasive procedures across general surgery, urology, gynecology, and bariatrics, among others.
“We're so excited. We have the new da Vinci 5 robot that will be installed in our operating rooms in a couple weeks, and this is the state of the art equipment that's just been released,” Brooks told the Rio Grande Guardian, in a video interview.
It was put to Brooks that the equipment really does look state-of-the-art.
“It is. the da Vinci surgical robot has been around for many, many years, but this is a brand new robot that's just been released that has a lot of great new intuition with the Intuitive company.”
Asked to explain what it does, Brooks said:
“What this does is, it is a laparoscopic assistant. So, normally, when we do laparoscopic surgery, we used to use people as our assistants. Now the surgeon is in complete control in the operating room, and we're able to use the robot as our assistant. So the surgeon is still doing the operation. We're in complete control but the equipment will be our assistant.
“The main difference with the new robot is that the cameras are so much better. We can zoom in. We can see a lot better than we used to with the older robots. And the ergonomics are great. We're able to sit down.
“But the new invention is that we can actually feel on this Da Vinci 5. In the previous models, we did not have the use of feel. We had to operate with sight. But with the new robot, we're able to actually feel tension in the tissues. So it's a big new step.”
Brooks was asked if the new da Vinci is harder to use.
“It's not a great deal different than the old robot,” she responded. “It really just takes practice, like anything else. You just need to put time in to use it, to get used to it.”
Benefits of the surgical system, Brooks said, include reduced trauma to the body, shorter hospital stays, decreased blood loss, less postoperative pain and discomfort, lower risk of infection, and minimized scarring.
Alvarado said the da Vinci 5 system features wristed instruments, 3D HD visualization, intuitive motion, and ergonomic design.
She pointed out that the surgeon completely controls the system, which translates their hand movements into smaller, more precise motions with tiny instruments inside the patient’s body.
Enhancements to the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system include:
• New force feedback technology to reduce impact on tissue
• Optimized vision with improved color accuracy, higher image resolution, and more realistic 3D imaging
• Enhanced design for surgeon comfort and surgical viewing
• Over 10,000 times the computing power of its predecessor
DHR Health Brownsville is the first and only hospital in the Rio Grande Valley to offer the da Vinci 5 system.
“We are proud to bring world-class technology and resources to the Lower Rio Grande Valley,” said Aida Coronado Garcia, executive vice president and chief operating officer for DHR Health Brownsville.
In an interview with the Guardian, Coronado Garcia said: “We are committed to this community. We are bringing the newest technology to the Rio Grande Valley so our patients do not have to travel outside of the region. They can stay in Brownsville instead of having to go to Corpus or Houston. World class care close to home.”
Coronado Garcia said the reaction of patients that saw and used the model da Vinci 5 has been positive.
“We did some screenings today. The patients were able to see the equipment that is going to be used on their body, whether it is gynecology, hysterectomy. Before, they might stay for one or two days in the hospital. Now, with smaller incisions and less pain they can go home the same day. So, the patients were just as excited as we were.”
Editor’s Note: Here is a video interview with Dr. Karen Brooks:
Editor’s Note: Here is a video interview with Brianna Alvarado:
