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Health & Fitness

First Surgery Performed Using Innovative da Vinci Robot

Join Dr. Thai Nguyen, urologist with Advanced Urology, for a lecture about Prostate Cancer Options & Treatments on Wednesday, May 9 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Silver Cross Hospital Conference Center.

Recently, New Lenox resident Lisa Berger was the first patient to benefit from having surgery using the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical System at Silver Cross Hospital. Berger’s urologist Dr. Thai Nguyen, was the first physician to use the da Vinci robot at Silver Cross as he performed Berger’s pyeloplasty procedure, which reconstructed her blocked kidney.

Berger suffered for 20 years with kidney issues. Her left kidney would hold urine and as a result kidney stones developed leaving Berger in great pain for years. Under the care of Dr. Nguyen, it was determined that a defect existed in her left kidney. Berger’s ureter, the tube draining urine from the kidney into the bladder, was very narrow where it connected to the kidney. The resulting blockage was causing serious damage to her kidney.

New Lenox residents Terry Berger and Lisa Berger pose with Dr. Thai Nguyen, with Advanced Urology Associates, prior to Lisa’s surgery which was the first one using the state-of-the-art da Vinci Surgical System at Silver Cross Hospital.

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Using the innovative da Vinci robot, Dr. Nguyen made 4 tiny incisions in Berger’s abdomen then inserted long, delicate instruments that enabled him to remove half an inch of the defective narrow area and re-attach the healthy tubing to the kidney.

The da Vinci Si™ Surgical System is the most advanced robotic-assisted surgical technology available.  The da Vinci system combines a surgeon’s skill with precision technology to provide patients with the newest minimally invasive option for hysterectomies, prostatectomies and other procedures.  Compared to traditional open surgeries, patients benefit from smaller incisions, minimal bleeding, shorter hospital stays and faster, less painful recoveries.
 
“I am amazed how small my incisions are especially after undergoing such a complex surgery,” said 45 year-old Lisa Berger. “I feel so special to have met Dr. Nguyen and fortunate to benefit from his expertise to perform surgeries using the da Vinci robot. He is so knowledgeable, and my husband and I appreciate how he thoroughly explained my procedure and answered all of our questions prior to the surgery.

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As a result of this minimally invasive surgery, Berger had a short hospital stay and was home in two days. “The nursing care I received at Silver Cross was very good. The nurses were so kind and continuously took time to check on me to ask how I was doing,” said Berger. “Also the new hospital is beautiful. I truly felt like I was staying in a 5-star hotel! I am so proud that this wonderful hospital with such high quality medical care and state-of-the-art technology is located in my community.”
 
Dr. Thai Nguyen, with Advanced Urology Associates, says the da Vinci robot helps surgeons see better and operate with superior precision.  “The robot allows me a magnified, 3-dimensional view of the operative field which is unmatched by traditional open surgery or conventional laparoscopy. The robotically-assisted instruments give me unparalleled dexterity and precision, which are essential to achieving excellent outcomes during complicated minimally-invasive procedures.”

He continues, “I am very pleased with the outcome of Lisa’s surgery. With the da Vinci robot, we were able to repair her kidney with minimal bleeding, and her recovery was much shorter than what it would have been had we performed the surgery using the traditional flank incision, a very painful, long incision which often involves the removal of a rib.”

Robot Name Selected
Recently Silver Cross announced the “Name the Robot” contest winner. The new name for the $2 million, state-of-the-art surgical system at Silver Cross Hospital, is Mia—minimally invasive approach.  Tinley Park resident Suzanne Mitchell submitted the name during the community Housewarming Celebration for the new Hospital in February.  Mitchell along with more than 8,500 area residents had an opportunity to see Silver Cross’s new da Vinci Surgical System before offering their name recommendations.

Mitchell submitted “Mia”, which she says is an acronym for minimally invasive approach.  “I had heard that Silver Cross was going to be offering more minimally invasive surgery at the new hospital so I immediately thought of the name after seeing the robot,” says Suzanne Mitchell.  “The hospital is so beautiful and this new equipment will be such a benefit for patients.” The Silver Cross Procedural Care Unit Staff chose the name after sorting through thousands of submissions. 

Free Lecture
Join Dr. Thai Nguyen, urologist with Advanced Urology, for a lecture about Prostate Cancer Options & Treatments on Wednesday, May 9 from 6  to 7 p.m. at the Silver Cross Hospital Conference Center 1, in Pavilion A, 1890 Silver Cross Blvd, New Lenox. He will discuss how robotic-assisted surgery using the da Vinci surgery system can treat prostate cancer. FREE. To register, call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325) or click here.

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