Jacksonville, Fl., June 17, 2005 - Baptist Health today announced the availability of a new, minimally-invasive method to treat patients - robotic-assisted surgery. Baptist Medical Center Downtown (Baptist Downtown), including Wolfson Children's Hospital, has become one of only 16 medical facilities in the state of Florida and approximately 250 in the country to offer this type of surgical option.

Previously, all surgeries were performed "open," where an incision was made in the body large enough for the surgeon to plainly see-- and insert his or her hands into-- the surgical field. The large incisions that open surgery required inevitably created significant patient trauma. This caused substantial pain, increased risk of infection, extended recovery time, and, subsequently, incurred significant costs.

Approximately 20 years ago however, surgeons began practicing a new way to perform surgery - minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Minimally invasive surgery refers to surgery performed in ways other than through large "open" incisions in the body. Although revolutionary in its effect on patient trauma and recovery times, MIS has significant technical drawbacks. The surgeon operates using a 2-D monitor instead of looking at his or her hands, making all movement counterintuitive. The lack of 3-D visualization of the operative field, the poor ergonomic design, and the lack of touch sense offered by the laparoscopic instruments are also significant drawbacks. As a result, this type of MIS has turned out to be suitable for only the simplest surgical procedures.

In the late 1990s, however, another revolutionary surgical technique called robotic-assisted surgery was introduced with the da Vinci Surgical System® at the forefront. The System is making it possible to convert complex procedures in a broad range of surgical specialties from open surgeries to those using minimally invasive techniques.

The da Vinci Surgical System allows a surgeon greater visualization, enhanced dexterity, precision and control and superior ergonomics. "Multiple clinical studies have shown that the da Vinci Surgical System offers patients shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss and transfusions, less scarring and faster recovery," said Douglas Swartz, MD, a urologist with Baptist Health.

"The da Vinci system enhances one's ability to perform more complex procedures using minimally invasive techniques," said Michael Erhard, MD, chairman of Children's Surgical Services and director of the Minimally Invasive Program at Wolfson Children's Hospital. "The increased dexterity enables the surgeon to work more effectively, especially in the tighter spaces of a child's body." If you are interested in learning more about the da Vinci Surgical System at Baptist Downtown, call 904.202.CARE (2273).

About the da Vinci Surgical System
The da Vinci® Surgical System is powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology. The System allows a surgeon's hand movements to be scaled, filtered and translated into precise movements of micro-instruments within the operative site. The magnified, three-dimensional view the surgeon experiences enables him/her to perform precise surgery in complex procedures through small surgical incisions.