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Dr. McCuaig has
performed laparoscopic hysterectomies since the mid-80s. For the
past four months, he has used the da Vinci surgical system.
"I view this as the next generation of laparoscopic surgery," he
said.
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Dr. McCuaig said in addition to the extra arm, the daVinci robot
has a camera which magnifies in stereoscopic vision, providing
depth of field. It also has instruments that move like the human
wrist, enabling more precise movements than traditional
laparoscopy.
"That allows you to do more challenging, more difficult tasks,"
he explained.
With da Vinci surgery, a hysterectomy requires only a few small
incisions. The result is less scaring, and faster recovery time.
Patients Colleen Jacoby and Jonell Bundy were pleased with their
surgery results.
"I don't have a big incision...It was a better, quicker recover
and I feel better than I did even before the surgery cause I
don't have all those symptoms anymore," said Jonell Bundy, of
New Richmond.
"I went home the next day, after my surgery. And the first week
I'm thinking, you know, this is ok. It's not like great. And
then, it was like day number seven it was like something snapped
because I felt great that next week. So it's not even been three
weeks since I've had my surgery," said Colleen Jacoby, of
Rossville.
"I think it's a really revolutionary piece of technology. It's
one I'd really like to see them add to town," added Dr. McCuaig.
Right now, the million-dollar-plus piece of equipment is not in
Lafayette. Dr. McCuaig's patients travel to Indianapolis for
surgery.
St. Elizabeth Regional Health said its 2009 budget does not
including the purchase of a daVinci, but the organization said
it will consider the purchase in the future.
Clarian Arnett Health said while the system is not currently
available, there are plans to have
the robot in place in the future.
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