Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 23)

What's to like You may be able to go home the day of the MIS or the next day. In general, Lowentritt says, "scars are smaller. There's less blood loss, less pain, less medication, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays." And because of the smaller incisions, recovery is faster and infection risk is lower. things to think about There are a few downsides to consider. Procedures can sometimes take longer because of the skill required, so a patient may be under anesthesia longer. Surgeons can't touch organs and feel around to look for other problems. People who are obese or who have scar tissue from previous surgeries may not be candidates. Robotic surgical equipment is pricey, and compared with laparoscopy, such operations typically cost the hospital more per patient and require more operating time. Minimally Invasive- in Your Area One of the most common minimally invasive surgeries is performed with the assistance of a robot. This technology provides surgeons an enhanced, high-definition, magnified 3-D view of the body. "Gwinnett Medical Center offers our community the latest in minimally invasive procedures through state-of-the-art robotic surgery," says Darvina Heichemer, RN, director of surgical services at GMC-Duluth. This results in potentially quicker recovery times, fewer complications, reduced hospitalization costs and less scarring. What's neW in a hot field Talk to a Local MIS Specialist call Single-incision laparoscopic surgery, also known as single-port surgery, is a newer form of MIS. The physician uses a soft and flexible instrument equipped with three distinct openings that allow for the simultaneous use of three surgical devices-all accessed through one small incision, usually in the navel. It's increasingly being used for gallbladder, urologic and gynecologic procedures. Another new frontier is known as "scarless surgery," or NOTES, for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery, which uses the body's existing openings, such as the mouth and the vagina, to access organs with an endoscope and surgical tools. Stay tuned. To find a physician who performs robotic surgery at Gwinnett Medical Center, call 678-312-5000. iLLUSTrATionS By AAron meShon 1960 1985 2001 2012 The first hip replacement is performed. The procedure becomes one of the most successful types of surgery performed in the U.S. A robot called the Puma 560 places a needle for a brain biopsy using CT guidance. The first bariatric surgical device, commonly called a Lap-Band, is approved to treat obesity. Doctors in Sweden perform the world's first motherto-daughter uterus transplant. 2008 French neurosurgeons use a fiber-optic laser to destroy cancerous brain cells. SUM MER 2014 23

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
3 Ways to Give
Summer Numbers
Stress SOS
The Truth About Sunscreen
The Transformers
Get Your Head in the Game
The Journey Continues
On the Cover
The Foot Follies
Friendly Fat
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Back in the Swing
And the Beat Goes On
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center