Inova Health System Adds Leading-Edge Surgical Robots for Minimally Invasive Surgery

Inova Invests in Latest da Vinci Robotic Surgical Systems

Falls Church, VA  – (July 10, 2009) — Inova Health System, a leader in the Washington metro area in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery, has added two new latest generation da Vinci® Robotic Surgical Systems to serve patients in Northern Virginia.

Specially trained surgeons at Inova Fairfax Hospital and Inova Loudoun Hospital will use the da Vinci to perform minimally invasive surgery, primarily to treat prostate cancer and a variety of urologic and gynecologic conditions.

“The da Vinci represents the perfect marriage of human surgical expertise and leading-edge technology,” said Simon Chung, MD, Director of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Urological Surgery at Inova Fairfax Hospital.

“The 3-D view during robot-assisted laparoscopic procedures allows for great precision and accuracy that benefits our patients,” said Gregory Schenk, MD, Medical Director of Robotic Surgery at Inova Loudoun Hospital. “We’re able to perform delicate procedures, such as removing the prostate or removing a tumor from the kidney, while sparing the vital organs and surrounding nerves and tissue. As a result, patients experience less pain, less blood loss, a faster recovery and are afforded the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.”

Inova Fairfax Hospital – the first hospital in the Washington, D.C. region to offer the da Vinci in 2001 – is trading in its original model for the latest and most advanced model, the only one of its kind in the mid-Atlantic region.

The addition of a da Vinci robot at Inova Loudoun Hospital is a first for Loudoun County. There will be a public demonstration on July 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dulles Town Center in the mall’s Center Court. Visitors will be able to put themselves in the place of the surgeon and “test drive” the robot.

The da Vinci system integrates high-definition 3-D endoscopy and state-of-the-art robotic technology to allow surgeons greater dexterity and precision. During da Vinci procedures, the surgeon sits at a console a few feet away from the patient and remotely manipulates the robot’s surgical instruments. The surgeon guides the four arms of the robot into the patient through small incisions. Viewing the surgical field through a high-powered camera and a magnifying lens system, the surgeon then performs the procedure through these small incisions.

Surgeons at Inova closely follow advancements in the use of robotic-assisted surgery and are often among the first in the region to perform newly approved procedures. “Even though it was originally designed for cardiac surgery, the da Vinci has proved the perfect tool for performing delicate procedures like prostate surgery,” said Dr. Chung. “As a urologist, I started using the robot in 2004 for prostate surgery. Now, the number of different ways to use the da Vinci are virtually endless. Because of their commitment to the best technology for the patient, Inova’s surgeons are among the most experienced in the region in this type of minimally invasive surgical techniques.”

Inova’s da Vinci prostatectomy program (the removal of the prostate to treat cancer) is now the largest program in Northern Virginia and is the only prostatectomy program in Northern Virginia to achieve a five-star rating from HealthGrades®, an independent company that rates the quality of clinical outcomes and patient experience in 26 different areas. To learn more about Inova’s other distinctions, see www.inova.org/awards. And for more information about Inova’s da Vinci program, log on to www.inova.org/davinci.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.