Mobile Infirmary physicians highlight how da Vinci 5 is advancing surgical care on Fox 10's Daily Dot Com
- Category: News
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- Written By: Brandon Raines
MOBILE, Ala. – As surgical technology continues to evolve, physicians at Mobile Infirmary are using the latest generation of robotic-assisted technology to expand minimally invasive surgical options and help patients recover faster.
Dr. Isaac Payne, colorectal surgeon, and Dr. Meg Heusser, gynecologist at Mobile Infirmary, spoke with FOX10’s Lenise Ligon about the da Vinci 5 surgical system and how robotic-assisted surgery is changing the way procedures are performed across multiple specialties.
The da Vinci 5 system allows surgeons to perform complex procedures through small incisions while maintaining direct control of every movement. From a nearby console, the surgeon operates the system’s instruments while viewing the surgical area through a magnified, high-definition, three-dimensional view.
“Though it is not necessarily the robot that is operating on the patient, we as surgeons are controlling the robot itself,” Payne explained.
For patients, robotic-assisted surgery can offer several advantages compared with traditional open procedures, including smaller incisions, less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stays. Payne noted that the technology has been particularly valuable in colorectal surgery, where surgeons often operate within small and difficult-to-access areas of the body.
“Patients are leaving the hospital in a much shorter time,” Payne shared. “Surgical site infection rates are significantly decreased. Pain after surgery is significantly decreased, which is a big advantage of minimally invasive surgery versus open surgery.”
The technology is also expanding surgical options for women receiving gynecologic care at Mobile Infirmary. Heusser uses robotic-assisted surgery for procedures including hysterectomies and the removal of ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids.
In some cases, the increased precision can help surgeons preserve healthy tissue that may have previously been more difficult to protect.
“I’m specifically thinking about fertility preservation surgery,” Heusser explained. “When we’re removing ovarian cysts where previously we might have had to remove the whole ovary, now with the robot, I’m able to do things like remove that cyst and sew the ovary back up while preserving more of that woman’s fertility hormones and egg quality going forward.”
The capabilities of robotic-assisted surgery are continuing to advance. Both physicians pointed to the potential for diagnostic imaging, including CT and MRI scans, to become increasingly integrated into the surgical platform. This could allow surgeons to reference and overlay imaging while operating, helping them more precisely identify anatomy and abnormalities during a procedure.
For Payne and Heusser, the technology represents more than a new piece of equipment. It is part of a continued shift toward surgical care that is less invasive and increasingly precise while keeping the patient at the center of each advancement.