SODA SPRINGS — Robotics being introduced in an operating room is nothing new. However, the technology has been advancing at a much faster rate over the past eight years.
With the advancing technologies available now, Caribou Medical Center in Soda Springs has made many efforts to bring two new pieces of robotic equipment to its surgical floor. Last fall the “da Vinci Surgical System” was purchased and surgical teams began training.
The da Vinci concept isn’t entirely new as the first robotic system was made available for commercial use in the early 2000s but the advanced efficiency has improved greatly in the last few years.
The da Vinci System now delivers a 3D view for surgeons as well as helping surgeons sense tissue force. The instrument is so precise that it reduces blood loss while combining less tissue damage, which can substantially lessen the time of patient recovery.
Multiple probes or cameras are placed just like most laparoscopic surgeries. However, the instruments have changed. Trained da Vinci doctors now sit away from the patient and use hand and feet sensors to control cameras and rotate instruments more naturally without being stuck to linear movement.
The da Vinci System isn’t the only high-tech piece of robotics making its presence at CMC. This last week the newest piece of robotic equipment, Stryker’s Mako, was delivered to its surgical floor. Dr. Nathan Richardson, orthopedic surgeon at CMC, performed a hip replacement on the newest piece equipment. Multiple Stryker reps were present to ensure any questions were answered on site during the first test drive of the equipment here locally.
The Mako has been making its appearance in operating rooms for the last seven to eight years. The Mako has greatly changed orthopedic surgeries to hips and knees. Doctors and Stryker technicians are able to map out patient’s preoperative CT imaging into virtual 3D models, which are then provided on screens throughout the entire surgery to ensure precise replacement of joints such as knees and hips. Shoulder technology is coming soon.
This extra assurance of precision enables surgeons with exact measurements live during the surgery, which takes out any guess work. This type of imaging creates balance in soft tissue and tension, as well as length measurements, which not only helps greatly with healing and getting back as much natural kinetics, but takes out much error of different lengths of a leg post recovery, which has been an issue among many patients in the past.
Tanya Gentry, the director of surgery at CMC, says this piece of equipment will vastly change how surgeries are conducted in its operating rooms.
“It’s a huge advantage to bring such technology to our community and provide state-of-the-art surgeries locally,” she said. “No one wants to travel a long distance home post-op and being a smaller hospital we have the capabilities to provide more one-on-one care, which is an advantage to our patients. Our concern and priority is always our patients. We want to bring the best care possible and knew gaining access to such robotics was worth the investment. Knowing the recovery rate can be significantly less is a huge benefit we can give our patients.”
When asked if this increased the cost of surgeries, Gentry reassured insurance prior authorizations haven’t been an issue.
“Insurance companies simply bill the surgeries differently and have yet been known to deny them or increase the patient out of pocket,” she said.
Mako reps said CMC is the smallest medical center in the region to receive the equipment and they are excited to see what the future holds for them.
“We want to keep our locals local and bring the doctors to them,” Gentry said. “More and more doctors are trained in robotic surgeries now. Without making the investments we did, we gambled with the idea of doctors traveling less to us and pushing their surgeries to larger hospitals. CMC is here for the community and our goal is to always provide the best care possible.”
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