Patient Has Procedure and Then a Baby
Cynthia Marin was 34 weeks pregnant and dealing with pancreatitis. Alina Ghani, MD, a board-certified general surgeon with Laredo Physicians Group, recommended removing Marin’s gallbladder using a robotic-assisted system. “When it comes to these types of procedures, the robot has a better reach than a laparoscopy or sometimes human hands,” Dr. Ghani said.
Marin agreed and became something of a pioneer. She was the first patient treated by robotic-assisted surgery at Doctors Hospital of Laredo, which is the first facility in the area offering the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System Si™.
How Robotic-Assisted Surgery Works
The da Vinci system can increase the minimally invasive options for patients with gynecologic, colon and general and urologic conditions.*
It’s important to know that, as the name implies, the surgeon is in charge of everything that happens in a robotically-assisted procedure. Sitting at a console away from the operating table, the specially trained surgeon views detailed, three-dimensional images from within the patient, then directs the movements of the instruments at the end of the robot’s arm with increased accuracy, dexterity and precision, particularly in hard-to-reach parts of the body.
In comparison to traditional surgery, robotic procedures can have many benefits, including less pain, less blood loss, a shorter hospital stay, less risk for infection/complications and less scarring. They can also lead to a faster recovery and increased patient satisfaction.
Cynthia Marin shares her story about being the first patient to undergo robotic-assisted surgery at Doctors Hospital.
A Happy Ending
Six weeks after her gallbladder surgery, Marin delivered a baby girl via cesarean section. “I have had no issues whatsoever,” she said. “I healed from both surgeries perfectly!”
Having had a C-section, Marin added that she knows what pain is. “With the robotic surgery, I was walking as soon as I got home,” she said. “I definitely encourage people to contact Doctors Hospital for their surgical needs.”
*Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if robotic surgery is right for you.