CHRISTUS Southeast Texas - LiveWell

While laparoscopic surgery has led the way for safer, less invasive procedures, robotic surgery has brought its own wealth of benefits. Unlike traditional operations that require a large incision — or even laparoscopic surgery, which uses multiple, smaller incisions — the Single-Site TM gallbladder procedure done with the da Vinci system requires just one incision. Once this incision is made, a surgeon controls the robot's arms to repair or remove affected organs and complete the procedure. The only surgeon in Southeast Texas performing this procedure with the da Vinci robot is Kevin L. Dean, MD, FACS, General Surgeon at CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth. Dr. Dean has already performed over 20 gallbladder surgeries using the single incision da Vinci Surgical System. "Minimally invasive procedures offer quicker recoveries so patients can get back to their lives," Dr. Dean says. "Other benefits include decreased risk of infection and blood loss, less scarring, and better cosmetic appearance. I have been performing minimally invasive surgeries for over 20 years, and the da Vinci robot and its 3D camera allow me to see anatomy like never before." FLYING HIGHER WITH FIREFLY The da Vinci robot at CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth features Firefly technology to enhance a specialist's view during surgery. "Firefly is a form of immunofluorescence, or black lighting, that allows surgeons to identify affected organs, such as the bile duct, liver or gallbladder, during certain procedures," Dr. Dean says. "In the past, X-ray equipment would have been brought in. Now, I can use the Firefly light throughout the procedure without the need for extra specialized equipment. Having this technology at CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth means residents don't have to travel far from home to get the best care." Visit www.christushospital.org/singlesite for more information about the "scarless" da Vinci procedure performed by Kevin Dean, MD, FACS. "When I explain the da Vinci robot option to my patients, they say, 'I want you to do the surgery, not the robot.' I tell them that I perform the surgery, and that the robot is only an extension of my hands and eyes, giving refined mobility and visualization. Put simply, it's another surgi - cal instrument I can use — only one that leaves less scarring than ever before." —Kevin Dean, MD, FACS, General Surgeon at CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth for Scarless Surgery The Single Choice CHRISTUS Hospital – St. Elizabeth is the first hospital in Southeast Texas to offer minimally invasive surgical procedures using the da Vinci ® Si Surgical System. 4

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