In March 2006 (shortly after OHSU installed their robotic system), McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center became the second medical center in Oregon to invest in the da Vinci® Surgical System, bringing the benefits of this revolutionary minimally invasive surgery to Oregonians in regions outside the Portland area. Since then, more than 600 surgery patients have benefited from use of the da Vinci Robotic Surgery system at McKenzie-Willamette.
Background
The hospital installed the $1.6 million da Vinci® S™ in the spring of 2006. The portable system can be used by surgeons in several of McKenzie-Willamette's operating rooms. Urologists were the first local surgeons to use McKenzie-Willamette’s new system, performing minimally invasive radical prostatectomies (prostate removal), partial kidney removal (nephrectomy) and bladder removal (cystectomy). In 2004 the da Vinci prostatectomy procedure became the fastest-growing treatment for prostate cancer.
A traditional, open radical prostatectomy requires two days of hospitalization and recovery lasting about four weeks. With robotic-assisted surgery, those times can be reduced. Not all patients will be suitable candidates for robotic-assisted surgery. Those who are, typically experience less bleeding, pain and scarring, as well as a quicker return to their routine activities.
Centuries ago, da Vinci was a name associated with an age of enlightenment and scientific discovery. It's true again today at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center where the da Vinci® S™ robotic-assisted surgery system is available for a different kind of surgery experience. |
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In 2000, the da Vinci system, developed by Intuitive Surgical, Inc., became the first robotic system cleared by the FDA for general, cardiac, urologic and gynecologic procedures. It is named for Leonardo da Vinci, who invented the first robot. McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center was one of the first ten hospitals in the world to have the da Vinci® S™.
For more information about robotic-assisted surgery at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, call Oregon Urology Institute, 484-0221 / 746-1618 or the Center for Women's Health, 686-7007.