Robotics Institute

Giving Patients the Latest in Surgical Options with Robotic Approach

Eisenhower Health prides itself on offering our patients excellent care utilizing state-of-the-art technology, with experienced team members. Eisenhower was the first area hospital to offer robotic-assisted surgery in 2008 with the Intuitive da Vinci® S robot. Eisenhower Health began with gynecological procedures and has expanded to include multiple specialties, including urology, general and colorectal surgery, gynecology, bariatric, and cardiothoracic procedures. When an updated version of the robot called the Xi became available, Eisenhower was again the first valley hospital to acquire one and put it into service. Today, Eisenhower has six da Vinci Xi robots being used by skilled and experienced surgeons. The assisting staff members in our operating rooms have received robotic training, ensuring that the patient is receiving the highest caliber care from every team member in every role.

A Brief History of Surgery

In the past, doctors performed all of their surgeries open, making large incisions in the skin and muscle to be able to directly see and work on a specific area. Developments in technology led to the widespread implementation of laparoscopic surgery, where long handled tools, instruments, and cameras are placed through small incisions into the abdominal or pelvic area. Today, surgeons have the tool that is the da Vinci Robot, which further advanced the laparoscopic technology and created a system with enhanced control and dexterity.

In robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon sits at a console with a 3D viewer and has control over instruments which are attached to the robot arms on a separate component. The da Vinci robot system offers high definition, magnified, 3D imaging to the surgeon and the assisting team members. It also offers Firefly fluorescence imaging, which utilizes injected dye and endoscopes (cameras) to show if there is adequate blood supply to the tissue, which can reduce complications and prevent blood loss. Studies have shown that benefits of robotic-assisted surgery may include faster recovery with shorter length of stay in the hospital; decreased blood loss; less pain post-operatively; smaller, less noticeable scars; and fewer complications overall, such as surgical site infections.

What Makes Eisenhower Health Different?

Eisenhower was the first area hospital to acquire a robot, the first to upgrade to the Xi technology, and is the only local hospital with an Xi robot in an outpatient surgery setting — the Jerry and Kathleen Grundhofer Surgery Center in the Dolores Hope Building. Many of the surgeons at Eisenhower were the first in their specialty to perform robotic surgeries in the area or region. Enrique Jacome, MD, was the first surgeon in Riverside County to use the da Vinci robot to perform a robotic-assisted gynecological procedure in 2008. Joseph Wilson, MD, was the first in the valley to perform a robotic-assisted cardiothoracic procedure in 2010. Many of our surgeons have reached incredible milestones in the number of robotic procedures they have performed. Pedram Ilbeigi, MD, and Bobby Bhasker-Rao, MD, have each performed more than 1,500 robotic-assisted procedures in their respective specialties. General surgeons Justin Reckard, MD, Samuel Ibrahim, MD, and Ramy Awad, MD, have each performed more than 1,000 robotic-assisted surgeries. Dr. Bhasker-Rao has been identified by Intuitive as a case observation surgeon, which means that surgeons from across the country may come observe his technique in order to improve their skills on the robot.

Not every patient is a candidate for robotic-assisted surgery, and there may be other options available depending on your condition. As always, work with your doctor to determine the best approach for you. Read on for more information regarding the types of robotic-assisted procedures offered at Eisenhower. Click the link at the bottom of the page for a listing of surgeons organized by specialty with surgeon profiles listed below each heading. A star next to the surgeon name denotes that the surgeon has performed more than 1,000 da Vinci robotic-assisted surgeries in their career.

Bariatric surgery is a sub-specialty of general surgery, and is performed for weight loss in obese patients, usually involving the stomach and/or small intestines. There are multiple types of procedures that can be performed, depending on the patient’s needs and conditions.

Robotic-assisted bariatric procedures include:

• Sleeve gastrectomy (removal of approximately 2/3 of the stomach)
• Gastric bypass roux-en-y (stomach reduction and re-routing of food to the small intestine)
• Gastric banding (placement of a band which reduces the amount of food that fits in the stomach)
• Duodenal switch (sleeve gastrectomy and bypassing part of the small intestinal)
• Revisional weight loss procedures

Cardiothoracic

The cardiothoracic specialty includes the heart, the lungs, the esophagus and the membrane which lines the chest cavity.

Robotic-assisted cardiothoracic procedures include:

• Lung cancer surgery
• Mediastinal mass resection
• Thymectomy (removal of the thymus gland)
• Esophagectomy (removal of esophagus)
• Pericardiectomy (procedure done on pericardial sac which surrounds the heart)

General Surgery

General Surgery includes colorectal, gastrointestinal and kidney procedures. The organs of the digestive tract include the stomach, intestines extending to the rectum, liver, pancreas and gallbladder.Sub-specialties of general surgery include colorectal, foregut and bariatric.

Robotic-assisted general procedures include:

• Gallbladder or appendix removal
• Hernia repair: hiatal, incisional, inguinal, umbilical and ventral
• Nissen fundoplication (acid reflux disease surgery)
• Gastrectomy (stomach surgery)
• Colon and bowel resection
• Rectopexy (for rectal prolapse)

Gynecology

The gynecology specialty covers conditions of the internal female reproductive system, which includes the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix and vagina.

Robotic-assisted gynecologic procedures include:

• Hysterectomy for benign conditions or for cancer, with or without fallopian tube and/or ovary removal
• Pelvic organ prolapse surgery
• Myomectomy (fibroid removal)
• Endometriosis resection
• Mass and cyst removal

Urology

The urology specialty covers conditions of both the male and female urinary tract system and the male reproductive system. This includes surgery on the kidneys, prostate, pelvic floor, vagina and vital associated structures in the pelvis and retroperitoneum (space at the back of the abdomen).

Robotic-assisted urologic procedures include:

• Prostatectomy (prostate surgery)
• Partial and total nephrectomy (kidney surgery)
• Pyeloplasty (surgery to relieve kidney blockage)
• Cystectomy (bladder surgery)
• Cyst removal (surgery to remove cyst from kidney)
• Ureteral reimplantation or reconstruction (fix the tubes that connect the bladder to the kidneys)
• Pelvic floor reconstruction and support (treatment of female pelvic organ prolapse)
• Lymph node dissection (to remove lymph nodes that may contain tumor cells)

Do you have orthopedic concerns? Click here for information about robotics for orthopedics.