February 16, 2009
         For Immediate Release 

Sacred Heart Hospital marks milestone with 225 da Vinci® procedures
Minimally-invasive surgical technology arrived at hospital December 2006

Eau Claire, Wis., - On December 20, 2006, the region’s first da Vinci® surgical system prostatectomy was performed at Sacred Heart Hospital. Over two years and 225 da Vinci® cases later, Sacred Heart Hospital is still the only healthcare provider in the region to offer this amazing, minimally invasive treatment option.

The hospital’s da Vinci® system has not only provided patients with shorter hospital stays, faster recoveries and better outcomes, but it gives them the opportunity to have these often life-saving procedures done closer to their homes and loved ones.

“The da Vinci takes medicine beyond the limits of the surgeon’s hand and actually redefines the term minimally invasive by incorporating the latest advances in robotic assisted technology,” said James Iwakiri, MD, FACS, Western Wisconsin Urology, and da Vinci surgeon at Sacred Heart Hospital. “In terms of experience, Sacred Heart has successfully completed 75 more da Vinci cases than the 150 procedures commonly cited as the benchmark for a mature robotic surgery program.”

The da Vinci® surgical system eliminates the need for large incisions required during traditional surgery. Using da Vinci®, the surgeon makes a few small incisions at the surgery site. While sitting at a console that controls the equipment, the surgeon uses refined robotic arms as laparoscopic instruments to maneuver and manipulate the tiniest of movements – allowing a more precise, delicate operation in a closed chest, abdomen or pelvis. The technology extends surgical capabilities beyond the limits of the human hand by providing a high-resolution, three-dimensional view of the operating field, as well as natural, intuitive instrument control and depth of field much like traditional open surgery.

# # # 

Sacred Heart Hospital is an affiliate of the Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1889 it has been meeting patient needs in western Wisconsin with the latest medical innovations and technology, together with a Franciscan whole-person healing tradition.