GRMC Becomes First in State to Offer New daVinci® XI Robotically Assisted Surgeries

Grinnell Regional Medical Center announced today that it is now using the latest Intuitive daVinci^® Xi robotic surgical system – the only location in Iowa where this technology is available. In fact, GRMC is one of only 30 hospitals in the world to be using the newest robotic surgical system.

The new system offers three-dimensional, high definition visualization and allows for enhanced dexterity and greater precision and control for the surgeon.

“The daVinci manufacturer approached GRMC to be one of the first sites to have the new daVinci Xi because of the phenomenal work our surgeons are performing with the current daVinci,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “These surgeons have been far in front of other surgeons in the state with completing complex procedures while producing the excellent outcomes for patients.”

Surgeons performing procedures on the daVinci Xi robotic system include Monica Brito, MD, with Grinnell Regional Women’s Health Clinic; and David Coster, MD; Nicholas Kuiper, DO; Mathew Severidt, DO, and Aaron Smith, DO, all with Surgical Associates of Grinnell.

GRMC’s original daVinci, an SI unit, was installed in January 2013 thanks to a generous gift from Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company and its employees. Throughout its first year in use, GRMC surgeons completed about 200 robotically assisted surgeries at GRMC, including two highly complicated Whipple surgeries to remove or repair bile duct and pancreatic tumors. Surgeons also completed single-site incision surgeries to repair or remove disease in the abdomen.

The SI was named Razer in a naming contest for area elementary students.

From the patient perspective, the new daVinci continues to offer the benefits of less pain, less blood loss, and faster recovery times. The new Xi unit expands the number of procedures that can be performed on the robotic in the abdomen and improves access within the abdomen for the surgeons.
“We can move between all quadrants of the abdomen during a procedure with this new unit,” Kuiper says. “We are able to do larger and more complex operations, moving within the abdomen and not having to change the arms of the unit. The camera on this new unit is exceptional.”

According to Intuitive Surgical, by enabling efficient access throughout the abdomen, the daVinci Xi System expands upon core daVinci System features, including wristed instruments, 3D-HD visualization, intuitive motion, and an ergonomic design. As with all daVinci surgical systems, the surgeon is 100 percent in control of the robotic-assisted daVinci system, which translates his/her hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body. The Xi system’s immersive 3D-HD vision system provides surgeons a highly magnified view, virtually extending their eyes and hands into the patient.

“GRMC is delighted to expand our advanced surgical capabilities and best of all, at no additional costs,” Linden says. “We were leasing the daVinci, so we are able to upgrade to the new Xi and keep our cash flow the same. In fact, in the first few years of the lease, our costs are reduced – but we have the ability to do more procedures. It’s a win-win.

“With national healthcare focusing on value, we have demonstrated again GRMC’s operational philosophy to be a great value and keep costs in check,’ he adds.

For more information on the daVinci unit and surgical procedures, visit the Surgical Associates website at: http://www.grinnellsurgeons.com/ or GRMC’s website at www.grmc.us.

Photo: Nicholas Kuiper, DO, of Surgical Associates of Grinnell, and Deb Reding, RN, director of surgical services at Grinnell Regional Medical Center, greet the medical center’s newest surgical assistant, the Intuitive daVinci^® Xi robotic surgical system. GRMC is the only location in Iowa where this technology is available. In fact, GRMC is one of only 30 hospitals in the world to be using the newest robotic surgical system.