GLENDALE, Ariz. — A Glendale hospital recently hit a milestone, performing over 15,000 robotic surgical procedures.
12News got the chance for a behind-the-scenes look at the latest technology being used to save lives at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center.
The latest technology is called the XI robot.
“There are actually two cameras that create a true 3D image,” said Dr. Edward Charles, a physician and general surgeon. “So, you get your depth perception and you never had that before with the earlier laparoscopy.”
Dr. Charles said the robots they use are truly changing the game in the operating room.
“It’s like reaching your hands in there basically,” he said. “You can do a lot more delicate maneuvers.”
Some of the simple procedures take less than an hour, while others can last up to two to three hours depending on the procedure and the type of diagnosis.
Dr. Charles said robotic surgeries are the way to go now for anyone in need of a hernia repair or colon surgery.
Robotic surgeries are offering thousands of patients like Deanie Tekulve minimally invasive surgery options with less pain, faster recovery times and increased precision.
“So far, four weeks later, I have not been on any medication,” Tekulve said.
Tekulve had major acid reflux issues and a hiatal hernia for years. She said it was so painful, it required medication. The acid reflux issues even caused dental issues.
However, Dr. Charles and his team were able to successfully perform robotic surgery, fixing the hiatal hernia and a tear in her esophagus.
“I’m able to eat things without having the acid reflux, so it is life-changing,” said Tekulve.
“Patients… because we don’t consume health care daily or hourly like you do other products… this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for some people,” said Dr. Charles. “Sometimes I feel like they might not even realize how good they have it now versus 10-15 years ago… you can just see a lot better what’s going on in a tight space in a body that’s difficult to get to otherwise.”
The director of perioperative services said while the technology behind the robots keeps improving, so do the safety features.
“We first started with the SI robot and now this is the XI model,” said Brittanie Bliss, director of perioperative services. “…so, similar to kind of an iPhone, we have a newer make and model that comes out.”
Bliss said the latest model is easier to manage and more efficient, allowing the surgeons to make even finer movements, a big advantage during an operation.
Banner Thunderbird is currently at the top 3% in the country for robotic procedures and the 8th highest in total historical procedures in the western region for robotic procedures.
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