The Future Is Now
Medical City Dallas hospital debuts new robot-assisted surgeries
Going under the knife always involves a certain element of risk, but a new surgical robot is reducing the chance for human error. Medical City Dallas is one of the first hospitals in Texas to use the newest model of the daVinci Surgical System, which gives doctors 360-degree access to a patient's body.
"It's important to realize that the daVinci robot does not operate on its own," Medical City spokesperson Stacy Covitz said in a statement. "A trained robotic surgeon operates at the console and manipulates the hand controls while watching a 3D monitor."
Dr. Alan Munoz has performed several operations with the technology, including a robotic prolapse surgery and two robotic hysterectomies. The daVinci Surgerical System translates Dr. Munoz's actions on the console into precise movements inside the patient.
Medical City has utilized robot-assisted surgeries since 2010. Benefits of robotic surgery include minimal scarring, reduced recovery time and less pain.