Randall Wolf, M.D., Performs University Hospital's First Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Contact: Erika Turan (513) 585-7200
Date: 11/25/2003

Cincinnati--Randall Wolf, M.D., cardiovascular surgeon with UC Heart & Vascular Center and director of UC's Center for Surgical Innovation, recently performed The University Hospital's first robotic-assisted surgery. The procedure, a minimally-invasive coronary artery bypass graft, was performed on a 56-year old man from Hammersville, OH, who is now recovering at home. The procedure also included the use of Nitonol Coalescent clips that allow the arteries to be joined without stitches. "At The University Hospital, robotic-assisted surgery will be used for many different types of surgical procedures," says Dr. Wolf. "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." The surgery was performed using the hospital's newly acquired da Vinci Surgical System. The $1.5 million da Vinci system consists of several components, including a surgeon console, patient-side cart, instruments, image processing equipment, and a fourth "arm" for the robot, purchased by The University Hospital Auxiliary. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.