Da Vinci Surgical Robot Debuts at Swedish/Edmonds Open House

Swedish/Edmonds is celebrating its $2.5 million dollar investment in a robot that will assist surgeons in the operating room with an open house where visitors can try operating the system themselves.

The new da Vinci surgical system marks the latest addition to the Swedish robotic-assisted surgical program, which has performed over 4,000 surgeries since 2005, making it the leader in the Pacific Northwest. It is used primarily for prostatectomies and hysterectomies, but can perform various other procedures as well.

“The advantage for patients is huge,” said gynecological surgeon Dr. Clifford Rogers of The Everett Clinic, who was named one of the best physicians in his field in 2011 by seattlemag.com and has been performing robotic-assisted surgeries for about three years. “There is less pain, they can get out of the hospital quicker, there is a lower risk for complications and they can go back to work and normal activities in weeks.”

In contrast to open surgery, where the abdominal wall is opened up and bowel functions are disrupted, robotic-assisted surgery requires only an 8 millimeter incision to insert the camera and tools, while the surgeon sits at a small booth and operates the robot’s arms remotely.

Because this method is less invasive, patients can be given pain pills right after the operation instead of being hooked up to an IV for 24 hours first. There is also less nausea, so they can eat right away, too. Rogers said his patients can go home the same day or after only one night compared to multiple days after open surgery.

He concedes that there is a risk with any surgery. “But this lowers the risk for wound infection and there is less blood loss,” he said. Patients are also charged the same amount as for a laparoscopic surgery, which is similarly non invasive, but could see lower bills if their health insurance charges them by the day for their hospital stay.

“The fact that they’re willing to make the investment means that they’re looking for opportunities to improve for their patients,” Rogers said. “It’s good for the patient, but not necessarily for the bottom line [of Swedish]. Still, it could attract patients they might not otherwise attract.”

Swedish/Edmonds hosted this open house to introduce the robot to the public and elementary and high school students in robotic programs at Mountlake Terrace and King’s Schools. Communications consultant Camille Carette said, “I think it’s important for the community surrounding Swedish/Edmonds to know what Swedish is up to and what technical advances they invested in.”

As part of the debut, visitors may also submit their suggestions for the robot’s name to the “Name the Robot” contest, which rewards the winning entry with a $200 gift card. “[The robot] is going to be an important part of Swedish, so what better way to introduce it than throwing it a party and giving it a name?” Carette said.

Natalie Kim, a senior at King’s high school, was among the students who got to try out the robot. “It was actually easier than I thought,” she said. “It’s kind of difficult to see how deep I am, but I guess you just have to get used to it.”
Kim will be studying Bioengineering at Northwestern University in the fall. For now she coaches the junior high school’s robotics team and is also competing in a global competition this weekend, in which King’s holds two state titles and the eight place in the world.

“There are pro’s and con’s,” she said when asked whether she thinks robot-assisted surgery on humans is a good idea. “It’s a machine so something could go wrong. I personally like it, even if it requires a lot of skill."

Her teacher Mike Thompson advises the high school robotics team along with professional engineers, as the program goes into its third year of K-12 robotics at King’s Schools. He has no reservations about Da Vinci. “I think this is a phenomenal tool. They can use it on me!”

Submit your entry for the “Name the Robot” contest until 8 a.m. on Monday, December 19 for a chance to win a $200 Visa gift card: http://www.facebook.com/swedishmedicalcenter?sk=app_160430850678443