FIRST in Fort Bend
Urologists currently using the robot: John Boon, M.D.; Zvi Schiffman, M.D.; Henry Pham, M.D. and Kevin Nickell, M.D.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among American men. It is estimated that one in six males will develop the disease during his lifetime. However, promising new treatment options have been developed to help combat this life threatening disease.
One of the most innovative of these treatments in the country is robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (removal of the prostate), and Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is the first and only hospital in Fort Bend County offering this minimally invasive, state-of-the-art surgical option using the DaVinci S Surgical System.
There are many factors that make robotics an exceptionally valuable tool in the operating room during prostate surgery, for both the patient and surgeon. “Perhaps two of the most-feared possible long-term effects of a radical prostatectomy are erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence,” said Zvi Schiffman, M.D., urologist on staff at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital. “My specially-trained team and I have discovered that by using the robotic technique there is greater nerve sparing, which provides patients with the best chance for maintaining potency and continence.” Dr. Schiffman completed the first robotic prostatectomy at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital in early February and was assisted by his partner, Kevin Nickell, M.D. Drs. Schiffman and Nickell have over 10 years of combined experience in robotic surgery.
Robotic technology offers a number of advantages during surgery. For instance, the robotic “arms” filter even minute tremors of the human hand to provide steadiness. The robot’s camera also provides a three-dimensional, stereoscopic image of the body’s interior, as opposed to a two-dimensional image on a flat screen. “This improved perspective enables depth perception that sharpens the visualization of the prostate and the network of nerves and tissue surrounding it. Additionally, by scaling down the motion of the robotic instruments, the surgeon can perform extremely precise, intricate movements during the procedure,” added Dr. Nickell. For example, if the surgeon’s hand moves five centimeters, he/she can scale the robotic hand to move only one centimeter.
Robotic technology also offers a number of advantages after surgery including:
• less pain and scarring
• diminished blood loss
• a shorter hospital stay
• reduced recovery period for a quicker return to daily activities
The actual robot consists of a tower that manipulates instruments controlled from a console that is situated a few feet from the patient. At the console, the surgeon operates four robotic “arms” and “wrists” using hand and foot controls. One of the robotic arms holds a tiny video camera, one works as a retractor and the other two replicate the surgeon’s exact hand movements. The camera and instruments are inserted through small keyhole incisions in the patient’s abdomen. The surgeon then directs the robotic instruments to dissect the prostate gland and surrounding tissue.
Unlike standard laparoscopic approaches that require counter-intuitive movements by surgeons (whereby the surgeon must move his hand to the left in order to move the mechanical device to the right), the robotic technology affords surgeons the direct, “intuitive” control they exercise in traditional open surgical procedures, seamlessly translating their natural hand, wrist and finger movements at the console into corresponding micro-movements of laparoscopic surgical instruments inside the patient’s body.
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital is planning to use robotic surgery for gynecological, colorectal and urological surgeries. Urologists currently using the robot are Zvi Schiffman, M.D.; Kevin Nickell, M.D.; Henry Pham, M.D. and John Boon, M.D. The robot has created much excitement for other urologists and other specialists who are looking forward to being part of the robotics team. “The robotic program is a continuation of Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s commitment to bringing the medical center home to Fort Bend County as well as finding and applying the most precise, most beneficial surgical techniques to put patients on a quicker road to recovery with better outcomes,” said Dr. Schiffman.
The robot is just one of the many new services that Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has brought to Fort Bend County. Just in the last few years, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has added two Whole Body 3 Tesla MRIs, the industry’s most powerful technology typically found in the nation’s top academic medical centers; a 64-slice CT Scanner, one of the first units of its type in the Houston area; new operating rooms that are equipped with the latest lighting and ancillary equipment; a full-service Breast Center and physical therapy including aquatics and occupational therapy.
In recent years, Methodist Sugar Land Hospital physicians have successfully performed abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, angioplasty with stents, brain surgery, carotid artery stenting, gastric lap band surgery, open heart surgery, single port laparoscopic gallbladder surgery, urinary bladder reconstruction and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery – the first time any of those procedures had been performed in Fort Bend County.
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, part of The Methodist Hospital System and ranked as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by FORTUNE Magazine, is committed to serving the healthcare needs of our community. Methodist Sugar Land Hospital has some of the most advanced technology and medical capabilities in the area and has maintained the highest quality of care The Methodist Hospital is known for internationally. Services include oncology services, labor and delivery, critical care, emergency department, surgery, lab and diagnostic imaging.
To make an appointment with Dr. Schiffmann, Dr. Nickell or other specialists using robotics technology, call Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s physician referral line 281-274-7500 or visit MethodistSugarLand.com.
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