UF Health Flagler Hospital adds the latest robotic surgery technology

UF Health Flagler Hospital now offers patients the latest in robotic surgical care, thanks to the installation of the da Vinci 5, the most technologically advanced version of the surgical robot.

“The addition of this kind of advanced technology is a true testament to where UF Health Flagler Hospital is headed directionally, and it underscores our commitment to providing the highest-quality care possible in the community we serve. Patients no longer have to choose between the latest in state-of-the-art technology and getting surgical care in St. Johns County,” said Kerry Watson, interim CEO of UF Health St. Johns.

On February 27 Gordon Fifer, M.D., a board-certified urologist with Advanced Urology Institute, performed a pyeloplasty, a surgical procedure to correct a blockage in the urinary tract.

“Performing minimally invasive surgery can provide the best possible outcomes for patients compared with open surgery, with shorter recovery times, less blood loss, less pain, and a faster return to normal activity. And now we have even more precise movements, an even clearer image, and real-time feedback. This just opens up the world of possibilities for patients and for surgeons,” said Byron Stapleton, D.O., a board-certified general surgeon with UF Health Surgical Specialists.

The da Vinci 5 has three main components: the patient cart, which holds the camera and the surgical arms that assist a physician with surgery; the surgeon console, where the surgeon sits to operate; and the vision cart, which manages communications between the robotic arms and the surgeon and has a screen to view the surgery in real-time.

While minimally invasive surgery isn’t new, the da Vinci 5 offers benefits to both patients and surgeons that dramatically improve the overall experience, equating to shorter time for patients in the operating room and less time under anesthesia, which can lead to better outcomes.

During any surgery, delicate internal tissue and organs need to be moved or cut.

“The tactile feedback integrated into the system alerts a surgeon if there’s too much pressure being used. This information results in less tissue damage and even more precise treatment for patients,” said Stapleton. “When tissue is preserved, patients heal faster.”

Tissue damage is expected to be reduced by up to 40% compared with the previous version of the da Vinci.

The newest da Vinci model has 10,000 times more computing power than the previous model, allowing it to perform tasks it could not perform previously.

Additional enhancements include:

• An improved 3D imaging system gives surgeons a better view and supports future technology.

• New controllers provide smoother, more precise surgical movements.

• Sharper surgical imagery.

• Dynamic feedback to improve surgeon skills during training simulations.

The da Vinci 5 will initially be used in the areas of urology, gynecology, and general surgery, with the potential to expand services over time.

UF Health Flagler Hospital’s da Vinci 5, made by Intuitive, is only one of 3 in use in Northeast Florida and the first in St. Johns or Flagler counties.

To learn more about the surgical offerings at UF Health Flagler Hospital, visit StJohns.UFHealth.org/flaglerhospital.