First Robotic-Assisted Surgery

For Media Inquiries Contact:
Mary Alice Taylor
Communications Specialist
Cell: 901-516-0617
taylmar@methodisthealth.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First Robotic-Assisted Surgery Performed at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital
Robot often offers minimally- invasive surgical option for patients

Germantown, Tenn. – Todd Tillmanns, M.D., gynecologic oncologist, The West Clinic, performed the first robotic-assisted surgery at Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital. The hospital received da Vinci’s most advanced robot the da Vinci Si HD surgical system in early April. Dr. Tillmanns is also associate professor in the division of gynecological oncology at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and president of the Memphis Robotic Surgery Society.

“I think the excitement about the surgery for the physician is that we have unparalleled dexterity through three to five very small incisions in the patient,” said Dr. Tillmanns. “We also have unsurpassed control and vision. I can see things with the robot that I could never see with my unaided eye.”

Robotic-assisted surgery can be used for surgeries in a variety of medical specialties including gynecology, urology, heart, lungs, and ears, nose, and throat. Robot technology can also be used to treat advanced and recurring cancers.

“To me, robotic-assisted surgery is more of a patient driven process because I think your goal is to always try to improve the care for your patients and to improve their outcomes,” explained Dr. Tillmanns.

Surgeons say robotic-assisted surgery offers patients a number of benefits over traditional surgeries which required much larger incisions. Robotic-assisted surgery is minimally invasive consisting of just three to five small incisions about the size of a thumbnail. Benefits include going home from the hospital sooner, a faster recovery time, and less pain. Dr. Tillmanns has seen these results in his own patients.

“A lot of our patients will go home six hours after the procedure and these are major procedures that we used to keep in the hospital for three to four days,” said Dr. Tillmanns.

Robotic-assisted surgery is also performed at Methodist North Hospital and Methodist University Hospital.