The Medical Center of Central Georgia Expands Robotics Program
The Medical Center of Central Georgia Expands Robotics Program
Surgeon Performs Ground Breaking Robotic Surgery on Throat Cancer Patient
MACON, GA (Monday, October 7, 2013) – As part of its commitment to building the most advanced multidisciplinary robotics and minimally-invasive surgical program in the region, The Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG) recently expanded its robotic program to include otolaryngology by performing a robotic surgery on a patient with throat cancer.
Throat cancer affects more than 30,000 people in the U.S. and 290,000 worldwide each year. Thanks to the new Transoral Robotic Surgery (TORS) procedure with the da Vinci® Surgical System, patients now have a minimally invasive treatment option. MCCG is currently one of only a handful of facilities offering this state-of-the-art procedure.
“The procedure is performed through the mouth and therefore requires no external incisions. It offers an excellent alternative to traditional treatments and a can lower the risk of unpleasant complications – such as permanent feeding tube – common to traditional throat cancer treatments like radiation and open surgery,” said Dr. Bobby Newman, who performed the first operation at MCCG on Thursday, August 22. Dr. Newman practices Otolaryngology as part of The ENT Center of Central Georgia.
Surgical procedures performed with the da Vinci® Surgical System also allow patients to avoid the traumatic aspects of traditional open surgery. Open surgery requires cutting through the throat and jaw, which can mean a long, painful recover. In addition, open surgery can cause disfigurement; difficulty eating, speaking and swallowing; and patients have a significant risk of requiring a permanent feeding tube.
The TORS procedure may provide early- to moderate-stage throat cancer patients with the following potential benefits:
- Low blood loss
- Minimal pain and discomfort
- Less risk of tracheotomy
- Low risk of complications
- Shorter hospital stay
- No visible scarring or disfigurement
The da Vinci® system not only provides benefits to the patient, but the platform is designed to provide surgeons with superior vision, precision, dexterity and access to difficult-to-reach areas of the throat. Its miniaturized instruments can bend and rotate 360 degrees – far beyond the capabilities of the human hand.
State-of-the-art technology is one of the many ways MCCG is striving for superior outcomes for all patients, both young and old. MCCG was the first hospital in the region to acquire the da Vinci® technology in 2007, and is the only hospital in the area able to offer advanced robotic-assisted surgery in the areas of pediatric, gynecological, general surgery, colorectal, urology and now otolaryngology.