Centennial Medical Center Adds High-Definition Robotic Surgery System

Greater accuracy translates into smaller incisions, faster healing time and less pain

Oct. 27, 2009 – Centennial Medical Center today announced the addition of the latest-generation da Vinci Si HD Surgical System robot. The new system – the world’s first with HD capabilities – will provide surgeons with more precision and dexterity over existing approaches, improving patient treatment and recovery. Centennial Medical Center is the first hospital in Tennessee to acquire the $1.62 million technology.

As one of the first medical centers in Middle Tennessee to perform robot-assisted surgery, Centennial Medical Center has one the most experienced robot-assisted surgical programs in the region. Centennial established a multidisciplinary robot-assisted surgical program in 2001 and has since performed nearly 2,000 robot-assisted surgeries. The hospital now has four robotic surgery systems.

Centennial-affiliated physicians are using the surgical system to perform minimally-invasive cardiac, urological and gynecological surgeries, including bypass surgery, valve repair and procedures for prostate cancer, kidney cancer, uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer.

"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to be the first team in the region to operate with the latest generation da Vinci robot,” said Ravi Chari, M.D., chief medical officer for Centennial Medical Center. “We've only started to explore all the capabilities of this enhanced system and look forward to expanding our robotic surgery program.”

“Using the latest da Vinci robotic technology represents another step forward in transforming the surgical experience for patients and surgeons," said Michael Numnum, M.D., a gynecologic-oncology physician who has performed several surgical cases using the new system. "The latest generation robot gives us even greater ability to see structures with improved clarity and detail, which translates into a better operation for the patient with reduced complications, shorter hospital stays and shorter recovery time.”

The new robotic system provides greater than twice the viewing resolution and 20% more viewing area and is designed to provide surgeons with an immersive experience with more brilliant color and natural depth of field than conventional approaches.

To perform a procedure, the surgeon sits at the console’s master controls and maneuvers four robotic arms, which securely hold a high-resolution endoscopic camera and tiny surgical instruments that exceed the natural range of motion of the human hand. The surgeon’s eyes and hands are positioned in line with the instruments. To move the instruments or to reposition the camera, the surgeon simply moves his/her hands.

By contrast, conventional procedures require the surgeon to look up and away from the instruments to a nearby 2D video monitor to see an image of the target anatomy. The surgeon must also rely on his/her patient-side assistant to position the camera correctly.

Located in Nashville, Centennial Medical Center, part of HCA’s TriStar Health System, is a 615-bed facility accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). One of Tennessee’s most complete medical facilities, the hospital campus is home to The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Centennial, The Women’s Hospital at Centennial, Centennial Heart Center as well as Parthenon Pavilion, one of the oldest and largest full-service psychiatric facilities in the region. Round-the-clock care is also available at Centennial Medical Center at Ashland City, a critical access hospital in nearby Cheatham County. For more information about Centennial Medical Center, call TriStar MedLine at 615-342-1919 or 800-242-5662 or go to TriStarHealth.com and click on Centennial Medical Center.

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