SURGEON COMPLETES FIRST ROBOTIC TAR PROCEDURE IN TENNESSEE:
Dr. Josh Taylor, MD, general surgeon, The Surgical Clinic, performed the first robotic transversus abdominus release (rTAR) in the state of Tennessee at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna, Tennessee, on Friday, April 14, 2017. The rTAR is an advanced procedure to repair a complex hernia.
A hernia is a weakness or hole in the abdominal muscles that allows an organ or tissue to protrude through the weakened area. Robotic assisted surgery refers to minimally invasive procedures that utilize robotic technology and 3D imaging. The controls and surgical tools are guided by the surgeon, and the robotic surgical system allows the physician to operate through smaller incisions, resulting in less pain and less scarring.
Taylor performed the rTAR using the da Vinci® Surgical System through 6 small incisions, three on each side of the abdominal wall, allowing for repair of the hernia defect. The robotic procedure adds reinforcement to the abdominal wall to prevent the recurrences or other hernias from developing, recovers the abdominal wall functionality, prevents the intra-abdominal organs from protruding through the abdominal wall and provides a cosmetically-pleasing appearance
The rTAR approach has additional benefits for patients, such as less postoperative pain, decreased need for pain regimens, and quicker return to normal activity and improvement in functional outcomes. These benefits are possible through rTAR because the abdominal wall muscles are moved back to their normal location which helps patients regain abdominal wall function as well as improve other issues such as back pain.
“Using the da Vinci® Surgical System to perform robotic-assisted TAR is a giant and exciting step forward in the care of patients in Middle Tennessee,” said Taylor. “The benefits of rTAR verses traditional TAR are a significantly smaller incision, shorter hospital stay, decreased blood loss, and lower rate of wound infections.”
“At TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center, our first priority is the patient’s care.” Taylor said. “This state-of-the-art system and the ability to provide minimally invasive, robotic procedures allows us to offer our patients enhanced procedures with minimal scarring and shortened recovery time right here in our own community.”
“Dr. Taylor’s successful robotic TAR surgery is just the beginning of many great things to come for our facility around robotic surgery for hernia repairs,” said Lou Caputo, chief executive officer at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center. “The Surgical Clinic and TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center will be partnering together to host the Robotic Hernia Repair Summit for The Surgical Clinic general surgeons on May 11, 2017, to showcase cutting-edge surgical technology and advanced techniques that will accelerate and elevate the level of care we can provide to our patients.”
For more information about robotic surgery at TriStar Stonecrest Medical Center join us on May 11, 2017 for the Robotic Hernia Repair Summit to test drive the da Vinci® Surgical System and learn more about our state-of-the- art surgical care from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. In addition, our physicians that utilize the da Vinci® Surgical System will host a meet and greet from 12:30 pm -1:00 pm in the main lobby of TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center.
TriStar StoneCrest physicians offer advanced robotic surgery options for a variety of healthcare needs including general, orthopedic, spine and women’s surgical services. For more information about surgery at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center, visit TriStarHealth.com/StoneCrest.
