Leading the way in Twin Cities operating rooms
By Melanie Nelson, Public Affairs Officer
The da Vinci 5 gives us ‘gameday film and analysis’ that would make an NFL coach weep.
Robot-assisted surgery at the Minneapolis VA just got more precise.
“We performed our first surgery with Intuitive’s new da Vinci 5 robot last week,” said Chief of General Surgery Dr. Michael G. Johnston. “We are one of the first facilities in the Twin Cities with this new technology, demonstrating our commitment to the provision of state-of-the-art care for our Veterans.”
The da Vinci 5 joins the da Vinci Xi surgical robot that has been in place in the Minneapolis VA’s operating room for several years. The new model is a generational advancement over the Xi, with 10,000 times the computing power, better imaging, a smaller physical footprint in the operating room, and allows for easier intraoperative use by the nurses and surgeons.
“The da Vinci 5 gives us ‘gameday film and analysis’ that would make an NFL coach weep,” said Johnston.
General Surgeons, urologists, colon and rectal surgeons will all use the new robot for a variety of surgeries. The first surgery for the da Vinci 5 was a laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and more than ten medical personnel were involved with its inaugural operation.
“Robot-assisted surgery enables us to perform precision surgery in complex anatomical situations, enabling improved post-operative outcomes with faster recovery, fewer complications, and decreased lengths of stay for our Veterans,” said Johnston.
Acquiring a new piece of equipment like this takes a talented team working together. Specialized personnel in logistics, the operating room, sterile processing services, and information technology were all involved in its implementation.
Houston VA was the first VA nation-wide to adopt da Vinci 5 nearly six months ago.