Surgeons in a variety of specialties at Riverside Methodist Hospital, Grant Medical Center and Doctors Hospital use the da Vinci® Surgical System, the newest and most advanced technology for minimally invasive surgery (MIS).

OhioHealth has five da Vinci® Surgical System robots – two at Riverside Methodist, two at Grant and one at Doctors Hospital.

The da Vinci® Surgical System provides powerful advances that:

• Increase the surgeon's dexterity for difficult aspects of the minimally invasive procedure
• Offer better visualization of anatomical structures by immersing the surgeon in a high-resolution three-dimensional image, instead of the two dimensional or "flat" video screen of traditional minimally invasive surgery

Minimally invasive surgery with robotic technology creates less trauma for the patient, less risk of complications, less pain and blood loss, faster overall recovery time, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker return to normal activities.

Our expertise

At Riverside Methodist, Grant and Doctors Hospital, minimally invasive procedures using the da Vinci® Surgical System are routinely performed in the following specialties:

• Colon and rectal surgery
• General surgery
• Gynecological cancer
• Thorascopic surgery
• Urology 
• Urologic gynecology (pelvic floor disorders)
• Women's health

Not all patients are candidates for robot-assisted surgery. Talk to your healthcare provider about your individual situation.

These surgeons are fully credentialed to use the da Vinci® Surgical System robot at Riverside Methodist as of April 25, 2012 for robotic surgery: 

• Uma Ananth, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Amol Arora, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Beth Boyles, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Melissa L. Boyles, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• John K. Burgers, MD, urology
• Roy R. Brown, MD, urology
• Stacy Cacchio, MD, Obestetrics and Gynecology
• Susan M. Davy, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Stephen B. Duff, MD, cardiothoracic surgery
• Ronda Gaiser, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Carol Greco, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology 
• Thomas Harmon, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Jason Jankowski, urology
• Carol Jenkins, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Stuart R. Jones, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Brian S. Kelley, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Christopher Lutman, MD, gynecological oncology
• Joseph Novi, DO, urologic gynecology
• Joseph Q. Pulvino, MD, urologic gynecology
• Gary Reid, MD, gynecological oncology
• Matthew R. Riebel, MD, Urology
• Jason G. Sayat, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Carrie Soder, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Anita P. Somani, MD, obstetrics and gynecology 
• Mini Somasundaram, MD, obstetrics and gynecology 
• Frederick Taylor, MD, urology
• Eric Ward, MD, urology

These surgeons are fully credentialed to use the da Vinci® Surgical System robot at Grant Medical Center as of  April 25, 2012 for robotic surgery:

• Sara Alderman, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Steven P. Balaloski, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Andrew Bokor, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Joshua Braveman, MD, colon and rectal surgery
• Roy R. Brown, MD, urology
• Bonnie Corley, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• David Giammar, MD, colon and rectal surgery
• Terry W. Grogg, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Bruce Kerner, MD, colon and rectal surgery
• Benjamin Martin, MD, urology
• Patrick E. Muffley, DO, obstetrics and gynecology
• Augustus Parker, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Michael S. Parker, MD, obstetrics and gynecology 
• Frederick Taylor, MD, urology
• Tamara Thompson, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• Kelly Tyler, obstetrics and gynecology
• Luis Vaccarello, MD, gynecological oncology

These surgeons are fully credentialed to use the da Vinci® Surgical System robot at Doctors Hospital as of  April 25, 2012 for robotic surgery:

• Richard Costin, DO, general surgery
• Stephen Fisher, DO, general surgery
• Terry, Grogg, MD, obstetrics and gynecology
• James Massullo, MD, general surgery
• Steven N. Miller, DO, obstetrics and gynecology
• Jennifer Papp, DO, obstetrics and gynecology
• James Perez, DO, obstetrics and gynecology
• Jennifer Roncone, DO, obstetrics and gynecology
• Diana Topolnycky, DO, obstetrics and gynecology

How it works

Minimally invasive surgery (sometimes called "endoscopic surgery") is performed with a scope (camera) that's inserted through a small incision to allow the surgeon to visualize the surgical area. Other small incisions also are made for tiny instruments to be inserted, which the surgeon uses to perform the surgery.

• Using the da Vinci® Surgical System, the surgeon operates while seated at a console viewing a 3-D image of the surgical field. The system cannot be programmed and it cannot make decisions on its own — every surgical maneuver is fully controlled by the surgeon.
• Four robotic arms (that execute the surgeon's commands) and a tiny camera are inserted through small openings to access the surgical field.
• The instruments attached to the robotic arms mimic the dexterity of the human hand and wrist. Each instrument has a specific surgical mission, such as clamping or suturing.
• Quick-release levers speed instrument changes during surgical procedures by the supporting surgical team. This supporting surgical team works next to the patient, preparing the incisions and supervising the robotic arms and tools being utilized.

How you benefit

Because the incisions are small in minimally invasive surgery, the scars are small. There is no classic "zipper" scar that typically marks the body after traditional "open" surgery.

Also, minimally invasive surgery with robotic technology provides numerous benefits that include:

• Shorter hospital stay
• Less pain
• Less risk of infection
• Less blood loss and transfusions
• Less scarring
• Faster recovery
• Quicker return to normal activities

Where to get more information

• Read patient stories
• The da Vinci® Surgical System overview