By Jeremy Clark

Medical technology continues to evolve, and Brookwood Baptist Medical Center is walking in lockstep with that evolution. Our hospital is actively investing in robotics across multiple specialties, including gynecology, urology, general surgery, orthopedics and neurosurgery.

We have seen these investments lead to successful recruiting outcomes, as more and more physicians have come to Brookwood recently, eager to utilize our fleet of advanced medical technology. In early 2024, our hospital surpassed the mark of 15,000 robotic-assisted surgeries completed on the da Vinci Surgical System. In fact, Brookwood has completed more gynecological robotic-assisted surgeries on the da Vinci than any other hospital in Alabama.

Strong investment and utilization of robotic systems is a necessity for practice growth, and Brookwood is dedicated to that goal. New physicians who have joined the medical staff are already witnessing this effect.

Currently, the Mako Robotic Surgery System for hip and knee replacements, the da Vinci Xi Surgical System for gynecological and additional procedures, and the Mazor x Stealth System for spine procedures are all available to Brookwood patients. As the year continues, Brookwood is actively exploring ways to add to its robotics fleet.

In da Vinci robotic-assisted surgeries, small incisions are used to insert miniaturized instruments and a high-definition camera. A certified surgeon then views a magnified, high-resolution 3D image of the surgical site inside the patient. Computer and robotic technologies seamlessly translate the surgeon’s hand movements into steady, precise micro-movements of the instruments. Safety mechanisms ensure that the robot only moves under the control of a surgeon.

The robotic instruments have a greater range of motion than the human wrist does, allowing surgeons more precision in making placements at the correct angle. Robotic systems can also hold instruments more steadily than the human hand. The systems arms can help surgeons get to areas of the body that are harder to reach than in traditional surgeries.

All of these factors can lead to patient benefits such as less blood loss, less postoperative pain and discomfort, and lower risks of infection.

The Mako system is designed to enhance surgical accuracy when removing diseased bone and cartilage from a damaged joint, as well as when guiding the implant into place during hip and knee replacements.

Feedback generated by the Mako system helps the surgeon stay within clearly defined boundaries so that no healthy bone or tissue is inadvertently removed. Preserving healthy bone or tissue can result in minimal blood loss, faster post-operation recovery times, and less post-operation pain.

The Mazor X Stealth System is robotic technology that allows surgeons to perform procedures like general spine or brain surgery using several small incisions, instead of making a larger cut typically seen in traditional surgeries. It features a specialized guidance system for safe and accurate surgery no matter the complexity of the procedure performed.

Typical spine surgeries performed using the Mazor robot include treating complex spinal deformities, such as scoliosis. These procedures are completed by implanting pedicle, transfacet or translaminar-facet screws to provide stability in between bones during healing, osteotomies or surgical bone removal and biopsy, or extracting sample cells from patients for further examination.

Robotics-assisted procedures offered at Brookwood currently include hip and knee replacements, clolecystectomy, prostatectomy, hysterectomy, adrenalectomy, hemicolectomy, lobectomy, nephrectomy, hernia repair, gastrectomy, and appendectomy.

There can be some level of hesitation in patients, particularly when they are presented with the term robotic surgery. However, candidates for these procedures can rest assured the surgeon is in complete control, and is simply being assisted by the advanced medical technology at his or her disposal. Like all surgeries, there are risks to robotic-assisted procedures, but the minimization of incisions, coupled with improved accuracy provided by the machines, can make it easier to identify bleeding or other complications earlier than in traditional surgery.

All in all, robotic surgery has been an extremely positive development in healthcare, and Brookwood is committed to furthering our investment in these exciting technologies.

Recent and future planned investments in the robotics field represent Brookwood’s continued commitment to utilizing advanced medical technology. We’re proud to offer these procedures to our community and look forward to many more successful procedures going forward.

For more information on robotic-assisted surgeries at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, please visit www.brookwoodbaptisthealth.com/services/general-surgery/robotic-surgery

Jeremy Clark is the Chief Executive Officer of Brookwood Baptist Health and Brookwood Baptist Medical Center.