At McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, a Growing Number of Physicians & Surgeons  Use

Innovative Robotic Instruments 

for Minimally Invasive Surgery

Prostate Surgery and Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy
at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center

Prostate Surgery Patient Education (pdf).

More about the da Vinci robotic surgery system used at McKenzie-Willamette

A Different Kind of Surgery for Women 

What was once a multiday stay in the hospital and six weeks of recovery can now be an overnight in the hospital and just two weeks or less of downtime for women facing surgery for some gynecological conditions, thanks to McKenzie-Willamette's Oregon Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery, featuring Robotic-Assisted Surgery da Vinci® S™.

A Breakthrough Approach to Female Surgeries

Da Vinci® S™ robotic surgery is setting a new standard for the surgical treatment of a broad range of gynecologic conditions, such as:

• Fibroid (noncancerous) tumors
• Endometriosis (a painful condition in which the uterine lining moves and attaches to other pelvic organs)
• Prolapsed (downward dropping) uterus
• hysterectomy

The da Vinci surgical system allows the surgeon’s hand movements to be translated into precise movements of micro-instruments within the operative site. Unlike standard laparoscopic instruments, which are straight and do not bend, da Vinci instruments articulate and rotate 360 degrees, allowing the surgeon unparalleled precision and flexibility.

Patient Theresa Schaecher* could not be happier with the results of her da Vinci surgery, done by gynecologist Zena Monji. “Prior to the surgery, I was in a lot of pain and unable to do many of the things I enjoy,” says Schaecher. “Immediately after the surgery, I had very little pain -- and no bleeding. During my one-night hospital stay, I barely used the pain medicine IV. Back home on day two and three, I took a little prescription pain medicine. Within a week of surgery, all I was taking was some over-the-counter pain relievers.”

“A hysterectomy is major surgery, but the short recovery time, amount of pain and no bleeding were equivalent to what happened after a minor surgical procedure I had last July (which did not take care of the problems I was having). I am thrilled with the results, and I am really looking forward to getting back to hiking and being active again.”

A gynecologist for 11 years, Dr. Monji has extensive experience in traditional and laparoscopic surgery techniques. She performs approximately two complete hysterectomies per week, using the da Vinci equipment at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center. The advantages to patients are many and may include:

• Shorter hospital stay
• Less pain
• Faster recovery time
• Quicker return to normal activities
• Less risk of wound infection
• Less blood loss
• Less scarring

Prostate Surgery &  Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy

Above: Physicians of the Oregon Urology Institute with da Vinci equipment.

A Video About da Vinci Robotics & Prostate Surgery

Patient Education (pdf)

Patients often experience less pain, bleeding, scarring and a quicker recovery time with this less invasive surgery. Prostate surgery patient Mr. Dave Barta* was back playing soccer in just four weeks following his surgery. What patients have to say (video coming soon).

At McKenzie-Willamette, the Oregon Urinary Institute now performs da Vinci robotic-assisted surgery to treat prostate problems and laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy or vaginal dropping. Vaginal dropping or vaginal vault prolapse often occurs after a woman has a hysterectomy.

Several local surgeons from the Oregon Urology Institute routinely use the da Vinci system, including urologists David DiMarco, David Esrig,  Douglas Hoff,  and Jeffrey Woolsey. Urogynecologist Dr. Connie DiMarco uses the robotic system for sacrocolpopexy and other complex women's procedures.

Advantages of Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy

Preliminary results thus far are encouraging:

• Of the 20 robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexies performed on women in the first 12 months since it was developed, all were successful.
• Strong repairs were maintained during initial 6 months of follow-up. Patients were pleased with results and quick recovery.
• It requires a 1-night stay in the hospital.

Disadvantages of Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy

• It requires general anesthesia.
• The presence of excessive scar tissue from previous surgical procedures may interfere with the laparoscopic camera’s ability to visualize the area. These patients may not be suitable candidates for robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy.
• The 2 to 2 1/2 hours of the repair is still longer than the 1-hour time taken to perform open abdominal sacrocolpopexy.
• A successful outcome for all the various sacrocolpopexy surgeries requires that a patient refrain from lifting any significant amount of weight for 6 weeks following surgery.

For more information about robotic-assisted surgery at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, call Oregon Urology Institute, 484-0221 or 746-1618.

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.

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™.