News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 03, 2012
MEDIA CONTACT: Stephanie Poyant
Public Information Officer
Southcoast Health System
Office: 508-961-5280
Cell: 774-634-1460
Fax: 508-961-5876
Pager: 508-387-2532
poyants@southcoast.org
www.southcoast.org/news/releases/
Southcoast Health System becomes first hospital south of Boston, including
Rhode Island, to perform single-site surgery using da Vinci robot
James Hermenegildo, MD, removes gallbladder through single-site belly button incision
using da Vinci surgical robot at Charlton Memorial Hospital
FALL RIVER, Mass. — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, part of Southcoast™
Health System, became the first hospital south of Boston, including Rhode Island, to use da
Vinci® Single-Site™ technology to perform a gallbladder removal. The patient’s gallbladder was
removed through one tiny incision in the belly button, making the procedure virtually scarless.
Led by surgeon James Hermenegildo, MD, the Southcoast surgical team performed the
gallbladder removal procedure, called a cholecystectomy, using Single-Site instruments on a da
Vinci Si Surgical System. Using robotic assistance, Dr. Hermenegildo removed the gallbladder
through a one-inch incision. Dr. Hermenegildo is one of a small group of surgeons in the country
who has been trained to perform the surgery.
The da Vinci robotic surgical system uses technology designed to give surgeons more
precision and control during complex, minimally invasive procedures.
“Neither robotic surgery nor single-incision surgery is new, but combining the two to
remove the gallbladder requires highly skilled surgeons with advanced training and special
equipment,” said Richard Miller, MD, Physician-in-Chief for Surgery at Southcoast Health
System. “To be the first hospital in our region to offer this technically advanced surgery
demonstrates Southcoast’s leadership in providing patients with the most up-to-date minimally
invasive surgical options.”
“Single-Site instruments used with the da Vinci platform are the next step in the
evolution of surgical technologies,” Dr. Hermenegildo said. “We are truly excited to be a leader
today in the surgical treatment of tomorrow.”
Benefits of Single-Site gallbladder surgery may include virtually scarless results, minimal
pain, low blood loss, fast recovery, a short hospital stay and high patient satisfaction. The surgery
can be performed in less than one hour with the patient going home after the procedure is
complete.
During the procedure, the surgeon sits comfortably at a console, viewing a threedimensional, high-definition image of the patient’s anatomy. The surgeon uses controls below the
viewer to move the instrument arms and camera. In real time, the system translates the surgeon’s
hand, wrist and finger movements into more precise movements of the miniaturized instruments
inside the patient.
Unlike traditional robotic surgeries requiring three to five small incisions, this new
technology allows for a single incision in the belly button where instruments are placed and the
diseased gallbladder is removed.
Most people who require gallbladder removal are candidates for the robotic, singleincision surgery. According to the American College of Surgeons, surgery is the recommended
treatment for gallbladder pain from gallstones and non-functioning gallbladders. More than 1
million people in the U.S. have their gallbladder removed each year. Most are performed with
traditional laparoscopy using several incisions.
Southcoast Health System offers various types of robotic-assisted surgeries at its
Charlton Memorial Hospital site. In addition to gallbladder removal, Southcoast surgeons
perform robotic-assisted complex urological surgeries, such as radical prostatectomies, as well as
gynecological procedures and colorectal surgeries. Southcoast also offers a wide range of
minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries. Charlton opened its robotic surgical program in 2008.
For an appointment to discuss robotic surgery, contact Dr. Hermenegildo at Truesdale
Surgical Associates at 508-676-3411. Truesdale Surgical Associates is located at 1030 President
Avenue in Fall River.
For more information on robotic and other minimally invasive surgeries at Southcoast,
visit www.southcoast.org/davinci.
About Southcoast Health System & Southcoast Hospitals Group
Southcoast Health System is a community based health delivery system with multiple
access points, offering an integrated continuum of health services throughout Southeastern
Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes the three hospitals that make up
Southcoast Hospitals Group — Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in
New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast provides advanced clinical services, such as open heart surgery, angioplasty
and heart rhythm services, comprehensive cancer care, neurosurgery, weight loss surgery,
orthopedic surgery, advanced imaging services and is the only provider of maternity services in
the region.
Southcoast is a not-for-profit charitable organization that depends on the support of the
community to provide services. More information is available online at
www.southcoast.org. Connect to Southcoast through social media
at www.southcoast.org/connect/.
Southcoast™ is a trademark of Southcoast Health System Inc.
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