Cutting Edge Technology: What’s New in Our Area Southeast Georgia’s medical scene is brimming with exciting advanced technological services and procedures, all readily available to its community. Hospitals, medical facilities and physician practices in the area hope to provide the best level of care with the most up-to-date medical devices. Below are some of the advanced treatment technologies available to the Southeast Georgia neighborhood.
da Vinci®
da Vinci Surgical Arms
The Southeast Georgia Health System offers a variety of efficient and robotically enhanced procedures. With board-certified physicians and medical staff on hand to
perform these delicate procedures, the da Vinci® system has changed the game for surgical performance and precision. The da Vinci® robotic surgical system provides opportunities for surgeons to perform with the utmost precision and control. This is due to the high-definition imaging system via a
22
laparoscopic camera that allows doctors to comfortably view the treatment area along with three mechanical arms, all controlled by a console, that can reach behind sensitive nerve tissue, delicate skin and muscle areas. The da Vinci® robotic surgical system is used at the Southeast Georgia Health System for various procedures, including bariatric, general, gynecological and urological related surgeries. In regards to general surgeries, the use of the da Vinci® system has become a standard practice when treating certain conditions. Conditions can range from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laparoscopic appendectomy, abdominal hernia reparations to colon resectioning and more. A common theme among these conditions is that each procedure usually begins with a major incision made to the abdominal region, but with the da Vinci® incision areas are minimized. There are a myriad of benefits that accompany usages of the da Vinci® system, as opposed to traditional surgical procedures. Some pros of this robotically assisted surgery include reduced blood loss as a result of minimally invasive incisions and smaller tools used by the mechanical arm of the da Vinci®. Additional advantages of this surgical device include a shortened hospital stay and lowered chances of remission, less post-surgery pain, lowered risk for infections, reduction in visible scarring and generally fewer complications.
The CyberKnife The Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler are pleased to introduce the astonishing CyberKnife, forever revolutionizing cancer treatment at this hospital. The CyberKnife is not actually a knife, but instead uses the new technology of gamma radiation to precisely target tumor-filled areas. In turn, it acts in the traditional sense of a scalpel that a surgeon would use in regular circumstances. The procedure becomes non-invasive and pain-free as a result, with large amounts of radiation being administered in sub-millimeters to specific regions of the body. This avoids healthy tissue in surrounding areas from being damaged by the radiation the CyberKnife omits. An advancement that pairs with the CyberKnife includes a real-time device which can monitor subtle movements in the target area and patient. In order to accomplish this, the radiation beam produced by this medical instrument can be aimed from 1,200 different angles. The angles provide seamless aim, as well as a multitude of treatment options to patients with tumors in any region of the body. The advanced capabilities of the CyberKnife have opened doors to many possibilities of operability, providing aid to oncologists and neurosurgeons employed at St. Joseph’s/ Candler. The benefits of the CyberKnife exceed expectations as procedures require less effort and time, along with reducing recovery time for patients post-procedure. Due to the lack of physical incisions being made, the risk for infection and
2021 - 2022 Southeast Georgia Healthcare Guide™
