Northwestern Medicine plans $15M upgrade to Kishwaukee Hospital’s surgery suite, with new surgery robot – Shaw Local

DeKALB – Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital debuted a new multi-million dollar surgical robot this week as part of a two-year, $15 million plan to upgrade the hospital’s surgical space.

The DaVinci Xi Surgical Robot is a modern machine that enables surgeons to deliver surgery to their patients with less pain, less incisions and faster recovery times.

Ricardo Soares, a urologist and surgeon at Kishwaukee Hospital, became the first surgeon to perform robotic surgery at the facility in September 2019. It’s been a month since the machine’s predecessor, the Da Vinci Si robotic surgery system, debuted at DeKalb.

“Now I’m really excited to do my first robotic surgery with my new robot,” said Soares, 41, of Naperville. Soares was scheduled to use this machine for its first operation this week.

JoAnn Ricketts, 52, head of surgical services and interventional labs, said the new robot will save time in the operating room and make it safer for patients under the knife. Less pain after surgery.

This four-armed device is used for kidney surgery and hysterectomy. Soares said using a new surgical technique for prostate cancer that he learned in Europe could help patients regain control more quickly.

“Also, since I do the tech for prostate cancer surgery, I’m the only hospital in the Northwest regional network that actually does this, so that helps too.” It recovers in the first month but with this technology 90% recovers in the first month I was doing it with the old robot and had great results but with this new robot It makes that approach even more seamless.”

The hospital already had surgical robots, but Soares said they were a bit outdated. He likened it to getting a new smartphone and staying up to date with cutting-edge technology.

“Older iPhones still work, but they lack a lot of features,” says Soares. “The software is obviously safe because it always knows where all the arms are, even if they’re out of sight. That’s great.”

According to Soares, the new robot can flip a camera at the end of one of its four arms at the push of a button. Previously, Soares had to remove the camera, manually flip it, and then reinsert the instrument into the patient. Now, he said, it’s like operating in virtual reality with limbs beyond the capabilities of the human body: the operating table uses a separate camera for each eye, and the surgeon can target him. can be seen in three dimensions.

“When I look at it, it’s as if I’m inside the patient and the controls are controlling a very small instrument,” Soares said. “It’s like the wrist technology they have. It allows a range of motion that exceeds that of a human wrist.”

In the near future, the DaVinci Xi surgical robot will also be used for general surgery. Soares said the machine could make a bigger difference to general surgery than he did, because robots can easily work with different areas of the body.

“I think it’s incredibly inspiring and really shows Northwestern University’s investment in our hospital and community,” Ricketts said.

Sarah Snyder, Director of Surgical Services and Intervention Labs, said general surgeons cannot operate previous surgical robotDaVinci Si Surgical System.

“So what we needed to do with a robot for our patients couldn’t be done here,” Snyder said. “But with Xi, we can do that, so we can give it to our community as well.”

In addition to the DaVinci Xi surgical robot, Ricketts said Kishwaukee Hospital’s surgical suite is being renovated, upgraded and updated. Its renovation will begin in December.

“Our current operating room hasn’t undergone any major modifications since the hospital opened,” says Ricketts. “Northwestern University is investing heavily to renovate its 19,000-square-foot space.”

The operating room and aseptic processing area will remain intact, but all other areas of the operating room will be replaced over the next two years. The suite features his two new rooms dedicated to endoscopy procedures, state-of-the-art endoscope reprocessing equipment, endoscope drying cabinets, and new furniture.

“To protect patient privacy, all same-day operating rooms are private rooms with sliding glass entrance doors,” says Rickets.

Currently, in areas where sensitive and private information is discussed, the only privacy offered to patients and their families is the curtain.

“There’s not a lot of privacy if you can imagine people getting ready for surgery, or right after surgery, a surgeon coming in and talking to their families,” Ricketts said. A glass door improves privacy, as a fairly large patient.”

Beyond the need for privacy, Snyder said having the TV on and people talking can be an uncomfortable place to wake up after surgery. increase.

Marckie Hayes, Senior Staff Program Director of Administration at Kishwaukee and Valley West Hospitals, said the goal of the surgical suite renovation was to “bring clinically academic care to people’s backyards.” rice field.

Hayes said the work will help centralize hospital services to local residents.

“And you know, we can make sure people in the community don’t have to travel every time,” Hayes said.