Robotic Surgeries Leap to New Heights

When Joanne Davis heard she would be the first patient in the state of Iowa to have a complicated surgical Whipple Procedure with the daVinci Robotic surgical system, she didn’t think much of it. 

Now, she’s ready to tell the world. Her surgeon David Coster, MD, and his surgery partner Nicholas Kuiper, DO, of Surgical Associates of Grinnell were the first general surgeons in Iowa to perform a robotically assisted Whipple Procedure.

Davis underwent the eight-hour procedure to remove a cancerous tumor from her pancreas to address a blockage in her bile duct and pancreas. This complex procedure, which removes portions of the pancreas, stomach, and small intestine, typically requires a 12-14 day stay in the hospital when done in the traditional way.  Coster and Kuiper completed the surgery at Grinnell Regional Medical Center in February. Kuiper and Coster have each performed the Whipple surgery through traditional open surgical approaches but this was a first with the daVinci unit. The Mayo Clinic is the nearest institution to Grinnell where such an operation has otherwise been performed.

“I want to share with everyone the great benefit with the daVinci surgical unit. I went into the hospital on a Friday and was released the next Friday. Compared to the two weeks or more that most patients stay in a hospital following a Whipple procedure, I’m so impressed,” Davis says.

Coster decided to use the daVinci based both on his experience with typical pancreatic surgery and his experience with the da Vinci system for other types of complex surgeries.

“Usage of the daVinci converts a complex, disabling operation to one that is far less traumatic. The incisions are very small and the manipulation of tissues and organs is minimized, reducing overall tissue injury, pain, and blood loss. Recovery is thus accelerated dramatically,” Coster says. “I was seriously astonished at how quickly Joanne recovered.”

This technology will continue to expand as surgeons choose this state-of-the-art robotic system for procedures in the abdomen, pelvis, and chest.  

Coster completed the first Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure in February on a patient undergoing surgical weight loss surgery. GRMC has been a leader in Iowa for weight loss surgery, being the only accredited level 1 Center of Excellence by the American College of Surgeons.

“For bariatric surgery patients, the daVinci system may have advantages. Our patient with the first daVinci assisted Sleeve Gastrectomy experienced no pain and recovered surprisingly quickly following his procedure,” explains Coster. “Others since have likewise done better than expected with traditional minimally invasive surgery. We’ve released several a day earlier than the usual three-day stay, and many have asked to go home the next morning following surgery.”

Jim Pirnot, 63, Albia, researched weight loss options and surgeons for three to six months before making the decision. He sought a surgeon who had experience and skills in weight loss procedures. After checking out seminars in Des Moines and information on the internet, he chose Coster and the Surgical Associates of Grinnell weight loss program. The daVinci assisted surgeries were new at the time so his criteria for a surgeon focused on experience and positive outcomes.

“I’m very satisfied with the procedure. In addition to losing 70 pounds already, I feel very good. I’ve become aware of what’s good for me and what I should be eating. I’m better off without the sweets, carbs, and fats. I feel more alert. The daVinci assisted surgery seemed to make a difference in my initial recovery,” says Pirnot. “The first day after surgery, patients are up walking. My nurse was impressed and mentioned that I was walking longer than most patients at this post-surgical point of recovery. I really never felt pain. I couldn’t have had better care or a better experience.” 

GRMC president and CEO Todd C. Linden added, “This advanced technology is another example of how our community hospital is continuing to seek out the best technology for our patients’ benefit. The robotic assisted surgeries are truly transforming many abdominal surgeries for patient.”

The daVinic robotic system, by Intuitive, is currently installed at 17 Iowa hospitals and is used predominantly for gynecological and urologic conditions as well as some cardiac conditions. The team of general surgeons at Surgical Associates, as Iowa’s leading team of General Surgeons, has easily and readily expanded the potential for the da Vinci system with abdominal surgical procedures.