The University Hospital Unveils Da Vinci Robot Surgical System

Media Invited to "Test Drive" System Today, Oct. 29

Contact: Patty Holiday (513) 585-7200
Date: 10/29/2003

The University Hospital and the UC College of Medicine recently acquired two da Vinci Surgical Systems, which allow surgeons to perform robotic-assisted surgery. One system will be used for treating patients, while the other system will be used for research only. Members of the media are invited to view the technology and "test drive" the robotic-assisted surgery system with Dr. Randall Wolf on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. The $1.5 million da Vinci system consists of several components, including a surgeon console, patient-side cart, instruments and an image processing equipment. By combining the latest advancements in robotic-assisted technology and the surgeon's skill, it allows surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgery by operating through several small dime-size incisions. While looking into a camera system, the surgeon controls the device's "arms." The da Vinci system does not move or make decisions on its own, nor does it perform any type of surgical maneuver without a surgeon's input. "At The University Hospital, robotic-assisted surgery will be used for many different types of surgical procedures," says Randall Wolf, M.D., cardiovascular surgeon and director of UC's Center for Surgical Innovation. "The da Vinci Surgical System uses tiny surgical instruments that can fit into very small incisions. For example, surgeons can use the da Vinci system to perform open heart surgery without even opening the chest." Robotic-assisted surgery has a number of benefits for both the patient and the surgeon. For surgeons, it provides even greater surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved dexterity and enhanced 3D visualization. Because robotic-assisted surgery requires smaller incisions, patients can experience shorter hospital stays, less pain, less risk of infection, less scarring and faster return to normal daily activities. "Having two da Vinci surgical systems at The University Hospital allows us to research and create new devices and techniques that will transform surgery as we know it," says Dr. Wolf. "With this surgical system, we can decrease the trauma of surgery for patients and offer Greater Cincinnati residents the most advanced, state-of-the-art surgical care right here at home." Dr. Wolf was the first surgeon in the United States to use robotic applications for cardiac surgery. He returned to Cincinnati in August after launching the robotics program at Ohio State University Medical Center. During his four-year tenure at Ohio State, he performed the first endoscopic cardiac procedure in North America in 1999. He also completed the first Federal Drug Administration study with the da Vinci robotic system for cardiac surgery. Dr. Wolf's return to Cincinnati and the purchase of the da Vinci Surgical System that will be used for research were made possible by a donation from Carl Lindner, who shares The University Hospital's vision of offering world-class health care to the Tristate. The UC College of Medicine and The University Hospital purchased the second da Vinci Surgical System that will be used for treating patients. The University Hospital Auxiliary also recently awarded Dr. Wolf with a $180,000 donation that will be used to purchase new surgery robotic equipment. Dr. Wolf has trained additional surgeons at The University Hospital on the da Vinci Surgical System, as well as surgeons from across the country and around the world. The University Hospital will serve as a national and international training site for the da Vinci Surgical System. The University Hospital is part of the Health Alliance, an integrated health care delivery system that also includes The Christ Hospital, The St. Luke Hospitals, The Jewish Hospital, The Fort Hamilton Hospital and the physicians of Alliance Primary Care. To view other Health Alliance news releases, go to www.health-alliance.com/pressroom.