Frederick Health Hospital Unveils New Robotic Surgical Equipment

FHH says it’s the only hospital to have this particular piece of equipment.The daVinci 5 at Frederick Health Hospital (Photo from FHH Facebook page)Frederick, Md (KM) Frederick Health Hospital has introduced its newest in robotic surgical equipment. The daVinci 5 was unveiled on Wednesday at the hospital’s main campus on West 7th Street. “The daVinci 5 is the most up-to-date modern piece of equipment that Intuitive has on the market,’ says Michael McLane, the hospital Vice President for Surgical and Support Services. “In fact, Frederick Health is the first hospital in the state of Maryland with this game-changing piece of equipment.”Intuitive Surgical, Inc., is a manufacturer of robotic products which it says are designed to improve clinical outcomes for patients through minimally invasive surgeries.The robotic surgical equipment consists of four arms with a console where a doctor sits and controls the arms. “Standing and operating which carries a lot of joint issues over time for surgeons. Sitting and operating is ergonomically better so it can actually expand a career span for a surgeon before they have to retire,” says Dr. Shyam Jayaraman, a general surgeon at FHH.And he says there are other advantages. “For the patient, compared to old conventional surgery, pain is less. Recovery is faster. Wounds are smaller. Infection risk is lower. So it’s both an advantage to the patient and the surgeon,” says Dr. Jayaraman.This new robotic surgical equipment adds to the other robotic surgeries which are performed  at Frederick Health Hospital, according Dr. Natalia Kubicki, a general and bariatric surgeon. . “General surgery, bariatric surgery, Ob gyn as well utilizes it. . Urology utilizes the robot. Thoracic surgery as well utilizes the robot. Multiple surgical specialties are able to utilize this technology for the patient’s  benefit,” she ways.It’s being used in obstetrics and gynecology, but Dr. Kubicki says the robot is not used for delivering babies.Robotic surgery is being used quite extensively in hospitals as an assistant to the human surgeon. But Dr. Jayaraman was asked if robots will ever the place humans when it comes to surgeries. “If  they train A.I. {artificial intelligence} that can do precise movements without requiring human input, it is possible in the future that human surgeons are replaced by artificial intelligence, “he said. “But right now, that not the case.”By Kevin McManus