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L OWELL GENERAL HOSPITAL has cul- tivated a comprehensive, minimally invasive surgical service line that fea- tures advanced laparoscopic options with applications across a broad spectrum of specialties, including bariatrics, general surgery, gynecology, oncology, orthopedics and sports medicine, and urology, as well as ear, nose and throat procedures. "This is a community hospital willing to commit to new techniques and ideas you can't find at some larger teaching institutions," says Nonnie-Marie Estella, MD, Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecology Services at Lowell General Hospital, which was recently designated a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology by the AAGL and Surgical Review Corporation. "We offer advanced procedures performed by trained surgeons. Patients receive top-quality care without having to leave their community." General Surgery In 2012, Michael Jiser, MD, FACS, Chief of General Surgery and Director of Bariatric Surgery at Lowell General Hospital, became the first surgeon in New England to expand the use of the da Vinci Surgical System into general surgery. The system features high-definition 3-D visualization that allows surgeons to know exactly where their instrumentation is in relation to the patient's anatomy. Its wristed instruments provide 90 degrees of articulation, significantly increasing surgical dexterity over traditionally fixed laparoscopic instruments. Higher degrees of articula- tion, coupled with better visualization, help surgeons operate in recesses of the body through small incisions. The Si version of the da Vinci system has capabilities that enhance single-site laparoscopy. Conventional single-site laparoscopic instruments often impede articulation because of their in-line design. The da Vinci's design provides surgeons with curved instruments that triangulate around the surgical site, making the approach more natural. Dr. Jiser was the first surgeon in Boston to perform single-site cho- lecystectomy, for which he uses the da Vinci Si. "Traditional laparoscopic gallbladder removal requires four incisions, which is the standard of care," he says. "Now, we can use the da Vinci Si to do the same procedure through one incision hidden in the folds of the belly button. This offers patients a more favorable cosmetic result." Among the first generation of surgeons to perform single-site cholecystectomy, general surgeons at Lowell General also utilize the da Vinci's capabilities for colon SURGEONS AT LOWELL GENERAL HOSPITAL'S CENTER FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY HAVE HARNESSED LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES TO PERFORM ADVANCED TECHNIQUES THAT IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES, ALLOWING AREA RESIDENTS TO RECEIVE STATE-OF-THE-ART CARE LOCALLY. By Michael Ferguson A DVA NCING MINIM A L LY IN VA SI V E SURGE R Y AT LOWELL GENERAL HOSPITAL PHOTOS © KASKONS PHOTOGRAPHY Lowell General Hospital surgeons (from left) Nari Sabeti, MD; Roy Shen, MD; Rebecca Shore, MD; and Michael Jiser, MD 6 | Greater Boston MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M