BDAACH enhances surgical functionality with robotic surgical system | Article

CAMP HUMPHREYS, SOUTH KOREA – “It is a win for our sufferers and our employees!”

Three years of dedication to activating the robotic surgical system at Brian D. Allgood Military Neighborhood Hospital (BDAACH) right here lastly got here to fruition on Could 16.

Basic surgeons at BDAACH not too long ago carried out profitable robotic-assisted surgical procedures. With this new functionality, many surgical sufferers will be cared for at BDAACH as an alternative of touring stateside or to host nation community hospitals for extra difficult surgical procedures.

Because the hospital’s relocation from U.S. Military Garrison-Yongsan and the opening of the brand new medical facility at Camp Humphreys in 2019, its surgical division has continued a collective effort to implement this new surgical know-how. The trouble didn’t waver, even in the course of the pandemic.

Dr. (Maj.) Alexander Friedman, a common surgeon who had been spearheading the venture since he arrived on the peninsula, shared how rewarding it was to see robotic surgical procedures lastly validated.

“It took the crew a few years to get the tools required and get every little thing shipped to Korea,” Friedman mentioned. “It was a fairly extra hands-on venture than I anticipated however that makes it extra rewarding.”

Friedman recalled the reminiscences of ordering completely different elements of the robotics system and conducting a list of kit which typically made the working room employees dive into a number of packages shipped from the States.

Friedman mentioned all that tough work was doable as a result of the crew was decided to supply a further surgical functionality that can in the end enhance choices and enhance affected person outcomes.

“Our crew had two agency targets whereas working to carry this enhanced know-how to the ability: initially, higher affected person expertise and second, extra coaching alternatives for the surgeons and OR employees stationed in Korea,” mentioned Friedman.

Sufferers who endure robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgical procedure have much less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and quicker restoration because of the da Vinci surgical system as in comparison with open surgical procedure.

As well as, the da Vinci robotic surgical system supplies the surgeon with a sophisticated set of kit to make use of in performing robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgical procedure. Surgeons might now provide sufferers extra decisions of laparoscopic procedures for different specialties, corresponding to colorectal, gynecological, and urologic surgical procedures.

The da Vinci system interprets the surgeon’s hand gestures on the console into real-time movement with absolutely wristed devices in the course of the process with the next vary of movement than normal laparoscopic devices. The da Vinci imaginative and prescient system additionally supplies a three-dimensional high-definition and magnified view of the working space. Surgeons can use one or a number of devices at a time as a result of numerous device dimension.

These days, most surgeons are educated in robotic surgical procedure throughout their residency applications. All common surgeons at BDAACH are licensed to carry out robotic surgical procedures. By having the da Vinci system at BDAACH, surgeons will be capable to keep and advance their expertise. In flip, the OR employees may also obtain related and up to date coaching in help of robotic surgical procedure.

Friedman mentioned the robotic’s arms don’t essentially make surgical procedures easier. As an alternative, they offer surgeons an enhanced and constant working functionality, particularly throughout prolonged operations. The da Vinci system can be anticipated to extend the variety of surgical procedures the OR can provide, for the reason that system requires just one surgeon and reduces fatigue.

In preparation for the validation course of, the OR crew made a number of visits to the robotics surgical procedure coaching heart in Seoul to make sure they had been updated and conversant in all the processes and procedures. A surgeon proctor from a army hospital in CONUS was invited to supervise this system and validate the tools, in addition to the personnel who would function it.

Friedman mentioned the primary week of robotic surgical procedures went very properly. He was comfortable that BDAACH can provide extra surgical procedures, particularly varieties of surgical procedures that weren’t obtainable previously. He additionally shared his pleasure concerning the capacity to handle extra sufferers at BDAACH.

Not each surgical procedure would require robotic surgical procedure; the primary week consisted largely of common surgical procedure circumstances. Nevertheless, the urology and OB/GYN departments are projected to make the most of this tools sooner or later on a case-by-case foundation.

“It feels nice to carry this facility as much as the extent of all the opposite medical facilities within the Military,” Friedman mentioned. “Now we will provide the identical stage of care as different army therapy amenities within the states and the extent of care you get from the civilian facet as properly.”

Dr. (Col.) Huy Luu, BDAACH’s commander, mentioned the da Vinci system would enhance the hospital’s well being care supply.

“We’re so happy to announce that BDAACH can now leverage this cutting-edge medical know-how to boost scientific operations, security, and satisfaction for each the sufferers and employees,” Luu mentioned. “Our primary precedence is at all times our sufferers. We are going to guarantee the security and high quality of take care of our sufferers whereas offering our employees with essentially the most up-to-date coaching platforms.”