About the Procedure

The minimally-invasive coronary bypass allows the surgeon to reach the heart with a small incision rather than the traditional sternotomy (cracking of the chest) so patients generally have a shorter hospital stay than with an open procedure. Mother Frances Hospital is the exclusive facility in the region with this advanced robotic technology for minimally-invasive procedures.

The da Vinci® System is a laparoscopic surgical robot that integrates the classic skills of the surgeon with the futuristic precision of the robot. da Vinci cannot make decisions or movements on its own. The surgeon makes all movements. But da Vinci® makes the surgeon’s movements more precise, giving the surgeon more range of motion and providing enhanced 3-D visualization of the operating field. It improves the dexterity beyond that available with current minimally-invasive technology.

da Vinci® uses the natural intuitive movements of the surgeon. For example, when the surgeon manipulates the controls clockwise, the robot’s instruments twist clockwise, giving the surgeon natural hand-eye coordination. Current minimally-invasive surgeries are counter-intuitive, similar to performing surgery while looking in a mirror. da Vinci® is more precise than the human hand alone, which translates into less pain, fewer complications and faster recoveries for patients.

Since the first da Vinci® procedure, a minimally-invasive heart bypass, was performed in February 2004, over 280 robotic procedures, including cardiac, prostate, gynecologic and general surgery have been performed at the Center for Advanced Surgery and Technology at Trinity Mother Frances Health System.

“Since the da Vinci Surgical System was first used at CASAT in February 2004, hundreds of patients have benefited from this advanced form of surgical technology,” said Dr. Turner. “The number of procedures for which da Vinci can be used is increasing each year. I am proud to have teamed with Trinity Mother Frances Health System to be one of the first in the United States to offer this System to our patients.”

For more information on the Center For Advanced Surgery And Technology, visit www.casattexas.org. Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler, Mother Frances Hospital-Jacksonville, and Trinity Clinic. Trinity Clinic is a multispecialty physician group with over 200 providers representing 33 specialties serving east, northeast and north-central Texas. For more information on services available through Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit www.tmfhs.org.