PHX Reporter

Abrazo West Campus has introduced the da Vinci 5 surgical robot, making it the second hospital in Arizona, alongside Mayo Clinic, to utilize this advanced technology. The new system offers unique feedback capabilities that allow surgeons to feel subtle forces exerted on tissue during procedures. This feature is unprecedented in robotic surgical technology.

The hospital invested approximately $2.7 million in acquiring the da Vinci 5 system. It aims to enhance surgeries such as colorectal surgery, hernia repair, appendectomy, and gall bladder removal. Dr. Sushil Pandey, a Colorectal Surgeon at Abrazo West Campus, commented on the innovation: “With this newest generation technology, we experience the same accuracy and precision we’ve always had with robotic assisted surgery, but it gets us closer to replicating human touch.”

Preclinical trials showed that using force feedback technology resulted in up to 43 percent less force being exerted on tissue during operations.

Hans Driessnack, CEO of Abrazo West Campus, stated: “The continued investment by Abrazo West in the most advanced robotic surgical platforms equips our surgeons with the best technology to help our patients.” He added that incorporating the human touch factor into robotic-assisted surgery is particularly exciting.

Robotic-assisted surgery is now standard for many minimally invasive procedures due to its benefits of shorter hospital stays and quicker recovery times. The da Vinci 5 system includes over 150 enhancements like new surgeon controllers and vibration controls for smoother movements. It also features a high-quality 3D imaging system and a redesigned console for improved surgeon comfort.

Abrazo West has invested more than $6.5 million over two years to advance medical technology in the West Valley region.