FirstHealth Announces the Arrival of the Latest in Robotic Surgery at Moore Regional Hospital

PINEHURST – FirstHealth of the Carolinas enters a new level in state-of-the-art robot-assisted surgery with the arrival of the da Vinci Si surgical system at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital

A third-generation robotic system, da Vinci Si offers the latest technology and imaging for minimally invasive procedures. Because robot-assisted operations are done through a few tiny incisions instead of one large one, patients typically have less pain, shorter hospital stays and much faster recovery.

Physicians at Moore Regional Hospital have been using robot-assisted technology for surgeries for more than six years.

Urologists Greg Griewe, M.D., and Robert Chamberlain, M.D., were the first surgeons to perform robotic surgeries at Moore Regional, beginning with radical prostatectomies (prostate removals) shortly after the hospital acquired the technology in early 2006. 

Walter Fasolak, D.O., and Stephen Szabo, M.D., started using the system for gynecological surgeries in 2007.  For complex hysterectomies and other gynecologic procedures such as myomectomies and vaginal and bladder suspensions, robot-assisted surgery is an effective and less invasive treatment option.

With robot-assisted surgery, the surgeon sits at a console a few feet away from the patient and guides the movement of surgical instruments at the end of the robot’s arms.  Despite the intimidating presence of the equipment, however, the surgeon is completely in charge.

Some of the features of the new da Vinci Si include:

• Enhanced three-dimensional, high-definition vision of the operative field with up to 10 times the previous magnification
• A console featuring multiple ergonomic adjustments that allows surgeons to customize four different parameters for added comfort during longer procedures
• Superior visual clarity of tissue and anatomy
• Surgical dexterity and precision that is far greater than even that of the human hand
• Updated and simplified user interface to enhance operating room efficiency

“FirstHealth has always been committed to providing our patients and community with access to the latest advancements in minimally invasive surgery,” says Tom Kane, administrative director of surgical services at Moore Regional Hospital.  “The features of the da Vinci Si SurgicalSystem provide our surgeons with the latest tools in robot-assisted surgery currently available.”

For more information on robot-assisted surgery at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, call (800) 213-3284.