Dr. Megan DeJong discusses women's health and the da Vinci Surgical System

In December, Palos Community Hospital welcomed the da Vinci Surgical System to its campus. Many people saw the new robot in person during the community open house for the Hospitaller Pavilion in March. During the tour, the community watched a video showing the robot peel a grape with exquisite precision. (View the attached video or visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvg2I0LzHpY)

This has brought about many questions: Does the robot operate itself? Where is my doctor during the surgery? What are the advantages of robotic surgery?

Dr. Megan DeJong, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist with Palos Medical Group in Orland Park, addresses these questions and shares more information about the technology. Since the primary focus of her specialty is gynecology, most of this article will focus on gynecological procedures but the da Vinci system can be used for many procedures.

How long has da Vinci been used?  The da Vinci robotic system was developed more than 10 years ago by Intuitive Surgical. As of January, Intuitive reported there were 2,585 da Vinci systems being used in 2,025 hospitals worldwide. There have been hundreds of thousands of surgeries using the da Vinci system.

Who performs the surgeries? Contrary to what many people think, the robot does not actually perform the surgery. It merely holds instruments in place while the surgeon operates them from a remote console. Robotic surgery is used in seven major surgical subspecialties – from gallbladder removals and colon resections to prostatectomies and even tonsillectomies.

How does robotic surgery work and what are the benefits? To understand this, you need to understand historically how we perform surgery. Traditionally, surgery is performed through a large incision in the belly. This typically leaves patients with significant post-operative pain, several days in the hospital and a significant recovery time. In the gynecologic world, we can do surgery through the vagina to save from that big incision but this dramatically decreases what we can assess inside the belly. 

An alternative to these routes is laparoscopic surgery. This is a surgery done through three to five 1-2cm incisions on the belly. A camera is inserted through one of the incisions (usually the belly button) and long instruments are placed through the other incisions and used to perform surgery.

Robotic surgery is laparoscopic surgery with added benefits. Once the camera and instruments are put into place they are held by the robotic arms. The surgeon then moves to the surgeon’s console where they view a real-time screen and manipulate the master controls. Every finger movement is translated to the robotic arms and into the instruments. Effectively once the surgeon puts her head into the console she has the option of four arms instead of two and the capacity to be her own assistant in a surgery. Add this to 3D high-definition vision and the ability to zoom in as much as 10 times the normal size and your surgeon is almost a superhero. At no point is the robot preprogrammed to perform the surgery. The surgeon is in complete control of every move the instruments make. 

So the technology seems cool but what are the benefits to me? Robotic surgery has been shown to decrease blood loss, hospital stay, recovery time and post-operative pain. Gynecology patients usually stay overnight in the hospital and are discharged the next morning.   

How do you know if robotic-assisted surgery is right for you? The first place to start is a conversation with your doctor. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Megan DeJong, please contact her office at (708) 590-5304. 

Girls’ Night Out: Common Women’s Health Issues and the Questions You’re Afraid to Ask

When it comes to women’s health concerns, there are quite a few topics we would rather not discuss, not even with our doctor. Sometimes if it is a big concern we might bring it up to a sister or a best girlfriend, but even then the topic may be too embarrassing. From the lack of bladder control or painful cramping, get the expert answers you deserve.  In this program, led by Obstetrician/Gynecologist Megan DeJong, learn about common women’s health issues and treatment options available including minimally invasive surgery with the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions anonymously. The program is being offered as part of Women’s Works: Tools for a Healthy You.

TIME/DATE: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16 (Check-in begins at 6 p.m.)

LOCATION: Palos Health & Fitness Center, 15430 West Ave., Orland Park

REGISTRATION: Call (708) 226-2300 

COST: FREE