Robotically-Assisted Operation Performed by Washington University Surgeons at Barnes-Jewish Hospital

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August 4, 2008, ST. LOUIS – Imagine cancer surgery with barely a scar to show for it.

For the first time in the world, Washington University surgeons at Barnes-Jewish Hospital removed a large kidney cancer through a single incision at the patient's belly button.

The world's first single incision robotic surgery – or SIRS – was performed August 1 using the robotic da Vinci® Surgical System.  Doctors removed the patient's kidney and a tumor measured at 12 centimeters – about twice the size of the kidney itself.

Dr. Sam Bhayani is the urologic surgeon at Barnes-Jewish Hospital who performed the operation and feels the procedure shows great promise:

“The reason this surgery is revolutionary is because traditionally patients would get a very large incision on their side for a tumor this large – a 12 centimeter incision – and we were able to remove the tumor through about a three and a half inch incision right at her belly button.”

Operating through the belly button is made possible because of the da Vinci robot.  Rather than standing over the patient during surgery, Dr. Bhayani performs the operation from a console a few feet away:

“So I place three robotic instruments through the patient's belly button and then I sit  at a machine which controls the robot to do the operation. Now it's important to point out the robot is not doing the operation, I'm literally controlling it to do every move.  My robotic instruments are like having hands inside the body and having those hands inside the body is a tremendous advance.”

Dr. Bhayani says the robot's steady hand offers precision in removing the kidney and hand cannot:

“For kidney cancer and tumors that are large, the robot allows me to get around the kidney with all the mobility I need despite having this small incision at the belly button.”

Kidney cancer is diagnosed in 55,000 people a year and Dr. Bhayani says the SIRS procedure offers many benefits:

“One benefit is fewer scars, less pain and taking out through the belly button is cosmetically better for the patient and I expect her to have a quicker recovery time as well.”

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