KENDALLVILLE, IND. – March 21, 2024 – Parkview Noble Hospital has entered a new era in patient care thanks, in part, to generous support from the community. The hospital has launched a robotic-assisted surgery program using the da Vinci® Xi Surgical System.
While the term “robotic-assisted surgery” may bring to mind futuristic images, the “robot” is actually a high-tech device that is fully operated by an experienced surgeon in the operating room. The system enables the surgeon to view structures inside the patient’s body in very fine detail and perform delicate operations with a high degree of precision. Incisions can be smaller and fewer and the entire process less invasive than traditional surgery.
For most patients, the benefits of robotic surgery can be significant: less blood loss during procedures, less pain during recovery, shorter hospital stays, minimal scarring and lower risk of infection and complications.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this leading-edge surgical option to help our patients heal faster and get back to their lives,” said Jordi Disler, market president, Parkview Health North. “Our experienced surgeons are already proficient with the da Vinci system, so our surgical team has begun using the da Vinci for certain types of surgical cases. I want to congratulate our co-workers and physicians who have put in the hard work to help us launch this wonderful program.”
Joshua Leichty, DO, MPH, Parkview Physicians Group (PPG) – OB/GYN, is one of the surgeons using the system. Trained for robotic surgery during his OB/GYN residency with a Detroit hospital system, he has used da Vinci systems at other Parkview hospitals and is enthusiastic about the advances over traditional and laparoscopic surgery that the da Vinci can provide.
“I was involved with implementing the robotic surgery program at Parkview DeKalb Hospital last year,” he said, “and prior to performing robotic surgery at Parkview DeKalb, I did all my cases [on the da Vinci system] at Parkview Regional Medical Center. This type of surgery holds many benefits for patients and surgeons, and I am excited to be able to provide my patients with new and ‘up-and-coming’ technology locally.”
Area residents have played a part, too. The generosity of Noble County community members who donated to the hospital foundation over the years has helped make the program possible at Parkview Noble by funding specialized instruments and other needs related to operation of the da Vinci system.
A win-win situation
Housed in one of the hospital’s operating suites, the system is a means of enhancing a surgeon’s skills and dexterity. The surgeon controls the movable arms of the device while seated at a computerized console and viewing the surgical site via camera technology that provides a 3DHD, 10-times-magnified view.
Using hand and finger movements, the physician manipulates tiny, highly specialized instruments to perform very specific functions, allowing for even the subtlest movements. This enables the surgeon to reach and precisely alter structures deep within a patient’s abdomen through small incisions.
“Compared to normal laparoscopic surgery, the robotic approach allows surgeons like me greater dexterity, enhanced movement, and the ability to zoom in very close to where we are operating for optimized visual awareness,” said Dr. Leichty. “For certain surgeries such as endometriosis resections and hysterectomies, the use of the robot enhances my ability to improve patient outcomes and reduce surgical pain. In fact, robotic-assisted hysterectomy can be done as an outpatient surgery, and patients are usually able to be discharged the same day to recuperate at home.”
The da Vinci system is highly versatile and can be used for various types of surgery in the abdomen, where organs and other internal structures are densely layered. Dr. Leichty and his colleague, Dr. Lars Langschwager, also of PPG – OB/GYN, will use the robot to perform gynecologic procedures including:
- Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
- Salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes)
- Oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries)
- Myomectomy (removal of uterine fibroids)
- Endometriosis resection or removal
- Diagnostic laparoscopy
Dr. Langschwager is also an experienced da Vinci robotic surgeon and has years of experience performing robotic-assisted surgery.
Parkview Noble’s operating team trained on the da Vinci with representatives of Intuitive, the company that created the da Vinci system, as well as Parkview’s clinical robotics surgical coordinator. Disler anticipates that other types of surgery will be added in the future for patients who are appropriate candidates based on their medical conditions.
Dr. Leichty stresses that the minimally invasive techniques of robotic surgery represent a real win-win situation: greater instrument control, increased efficiency and clearer visibility for surgeons translates into increased safety, less pain, faster recovery and a better overall experience for patients.
To make an appointment to discuss robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery, call the PPG – OB/GYN office at 260-347-8030.
Community invited to see the da Vinci surgical system, March 28
Parkview Noble Hospital will hold a public open house Thursday, March 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. Community members are invited to visit the hospital’s main lobby, where the da Vinci surgical system will be on display and a knowledgeable team member will be available to answer questions.
The Parkview Noble Hospital campus is located at 401 Sawyer Road in Kendallville.