In January 2021, Hannah Vraspir, of Roundup, went in for her routine follow-up after a Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis and treatment the previous year, not expecting any out-of-the-ordinary results.

“During my scan, they found a mass in my chest,” she recalls. “I'm not sure exactly how big it was, but it was obviously sizeable and concerning.”

Vraspir was referred to Jeff Rentz, MD, a general surgeon at St. Vincent Healthcare, who worried about the strain that a major surgery to remove the mass might put on her young body.

“I was only 23 at the time,” Vraspir said. “They were talking about having to crack my chest open to reach the mass.”

Robot-assisted surgery

Dr. Rentz asked his colleague, David Sims, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at St. Vincent, to weigh in regarding the possibility of using robotic technology for Vraspir’s surgery.

During robot-assisted procedures, a specially trained surgeon controls the movement of a camera-equipped robotic arm using a console placed next to the operating table instead of physically performing the surgery with his or her own hands. For patients, the advantages of robot-assisted surgery include fewer complications, reduced blood loss, less pain, shorter hospital stays and a faster recovery. The decision to go with robot-assisted surgery depends on the patient and their unique needs.

The FDA approved the first robotic surgery system in 2000. “While initially approved for general laparoscopic surgeries, robotic systems are now used for more than 70 different types of surgery in the U.S., many in urologic, colorectal, head and neck, cardiac, thoracic, spine and gynecological specialties,” said Jackie Hines, Senior Director of Surgical and Procedural Services at St. Vincent Healthcare.

At St. Vincent, state-of-the-art robotic technology has been a presence in operating rooms for more than a decade, and the organization has taken a forward-thinking approach by investing in the services of a highly skilled robotics team to support the surgeons on staff in its use. Today, St. Vincent uses robotic surgery systems in one way or another daily.

Better for this patient

Dr. Sims quickly determined to go the robotic route with Vraspir, requiring several small incisions near her ribs instead of opening her entire sternum. In March 2021, Dr. Sims used robotic technology to remove the mass from Vraspir’s chest.

“With robotic technology, we have seen hospital stays reduced from seven days to two days, and very quick overall recoveries compared to what patients experience with open surgery,” said Dr. Sims.

Vraspir remembers being in the hospital for two or three days after her procedure and taking two weeks off from work to recover at home.

“I was still pretty sore, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been,” she said. “They told me if I’d had the traditional surgery, I would have been off work for six weeks. The robotic approach made a big difference in my recovery, and I’m so thankful for that.”

Because Vraspir’s surgery didn’t require opening her sternum, she was able to heal faster and get back to doing the things she loves more quickly, without physical or occupational therapy.

Minimal scarring is another big advantage of robotic-assisted surgery. Because the technology allows the surgeon to operate laparoscopically using smaller incisions, procedures are much less invasive and have a lower risk of infection.

“It was such a relief to know I wouldn’t have to worry about having a big scar running down my chest for the rest of my life,” Vraspir said. “I just had five little incisions that have healed nicely. They’re hardly even visible now.”

Better for the surgeons

From the surgeon’s point of view, robotic technology allows for enhanced precision, flexibility, and control; a better field of visualization; and greater ease when it comes to performing delicate and complex procedures than what is often possible with traditional open surgeries.

“The image-guided navigation system and robot we use for spine surgery allows for extremely precise placement of screws and other hardware to ensure the best possible outcome for our patients,” commented Dr. Louis Ross, a St. Vincent Healthcare neurosurgeon.

To keep doctors up to date on the latest advances in robotic-assisted systems, St. Vincent has teamed up with its technology partners to create a robust and comprehensive training program.

“The robotic surgery program at St. Vincent is used as a part of surgical residencies and a standard of practice in several specialties,” Hines added.

St. Vincent is a leader

Looking ahead, Dr. Rentz predicts that robotic surgical technology will continue to evolve and improve.

“At St. Vincent, we are leading the region in robotic usage spanning multiple specialties including general surgery, gynecological, cardiac, thoracic, spine and more,” he said. “We look forward to continuing to lead this work into the future by growing our robotic surgery program into even more specialty areas.”

Vraspir’s results

Although she still goes in every six months for follow-up exams, Vraspir is now considered in remission for her Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hasn’t had any additional issues since her surgery almost two years ago.

“I’m healthy and doing great!” she said.

To learn more about robotic surgical technology at St. Vincent Healthcare, go to svh.org.