Backus surgeon uses da Vinci robot for colorectal surgery
Backus surgeon uses da Vinci robot for colorectal surgery
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Sergio Casillas, MD, of Backus Physician Services, is now one of just a handful of physicians in New England to perform colorectal surgery using robotic technology.
Dr. Casillas performed the first colorectal surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System at Backus on Monday, Feb. 8.
“It went very well,” said Dr. Casillas, who is a board-certified colon/rectal surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive procedures. “The robotic team at Backus is very well organized and excellent at what they do. They really helped make it go as smooth as could be expected.”
The first case was a patient with rectal cancer and the procedure was a robotic-assisted low anterior rectal resection. He had three more robotic surgeries scheduled later in the month as well.
“Other specialties, such as urology and gynecology have been using this technology, but we are still in the early stages of using it with colorectal surgery,” Dr. Casillas said. “Backus is very fortunate to have the robot; I believe it may become the gold standard in the future for rectal and pelvic surgery. Having this technology puts us at a very competitive level to give the best care available to our patients. It’s a very good tool to have and I think this minimally invasive approach will result in better outcomes and faster recovery times.”
The da Vinci Surgical System is powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology, which enables surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through very small incisions with unmatched precision.
Dr. Casillas said the robot system provides a superior image with the 3-D technology, as opposed to two-dimensional images with laparoscopic procedures that are often used for these surgeries. Dr. Casillas is fellowship-trained in laparoscopic colorectal surgery at The Cleveland Clinic.
The robot enhances the dexterity of the surgeon, allowing for more precision in the dissections, which increases preservation of the nerves and other structures. Other advantages of the robotic procedure are smaller incisions and faster recovery time.