Robotic technology at St. Vincent Healthcare ushers in a new era of surgical advancement | Brand Ave. Studios

Surgery performed with the assistance of a robot may sound like the plot of a futuristic science-fiction movie, but thanks to modern technological advances, it’s actually become a very realistic method of treatment for patients at St. Vincent Healthcare located in Billings.

“The first robotic surgery system was approved by the FDA in 2000,” says Jackie Hines, St. Vincent Healthcare’s Senior Director of Surgical and Procedural Services. “While initially approved for general laparoscopic surgeries, robotic systems are now used for more than 70 different types of surgery in the U.S., many in urologic, colorectal, head and neck, cardiac, thoracic, spine and gynecological specialties.”

During these procedures, a specially trained surgeon controls the movement of a camera-equipped robotic arm through the use of a console placed next to the operating table instead of physically performing the surgery with his or her own hands.

At St. Vincent Healthcare, state-of-the-art robotic technology has been a presence in operating rooms for more than a decade, and the organization has taken a forward-thinking approach by investing in the services of a highly skilled robotics team to support the surgeons on staff in its use. Robotic systems are generally used in one way or another on a daily basis.

The decision whether or not to go with robotic-assisted surgery over a more traditional approach depends on the individual patient and the procedure required to treat their condition.

For patients, the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery include fewer complications, reduced blood loss, less pain and shorter hospital stays. Because the robotic technology allows the surgeon to operate using smaller incisions in a minimally invasive capacity, patients heal faster, with lower risks of infection and less noticeable scarring.

“[With the robotic technology], we have seen hospital stays reduced from seven days to two days for complex abdominal wall surgeries, and very quick overall recoveries compared to open or laparoscopic approaches,” says Dr. Michael Wilcox, a general surgeon at St. Vincent Healthcare.

From the surgeon’s point of view, robotic technology allows for enhanced precision, flexibility and control; a better field of visualization; and greater ease when it comes to performing delicate and complex procedures than what is often possible with traditional open surgeries.

“The image-guided navigation system and robot we use for spine surgery allows for extremely precise placement of screws and other hardware to ensure the best possible outcome for our patients,” says Dr. Louis Ross, a St. Vincent Healthcare neurosurgeon.

To keep doctors up to date on the latest robotic-assisted systems, software and service components, St. Vincent Healthcare has teamed up with its technology partners to create a robust, comprehensive training program.

“The robotic surgery program at St. Vincent is used as a part of surgical residencies and a standard of practice in several specialties,” Hines adds.

Looking ahead, Dr. Jeff Rentz, general surgeon, predicts that robotic surgical technology will continue to evolve and improve.

“At St. Vincent Healthcare, we are leading the region in robotic usage spanning multiple specialties including general surgery, gynecological, cardiac, thoracic, spine, and more. We look forward to continuing to lead this work into the future by growing our robotic surgery program into even more specialty areas,” Rentz says.

To learn more about robotic surgical technology at St. Vincent Healthcare, go to sclhealth.org/services/surgery/robotic/.

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