joining an elite group of robotic-assisted surgical centers
LANSING, Mich. – The highly skilled surgeons at University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing recently performed the hospital’s 15,000th robotically assisted minimally invasive surgery, matching the volume of some of the largest robotic programs in the country. UM Health-Sparrow Lansing is the first Mid-Michigan hospital to reach this milestone and only the fifth in the state, including University of Michigan Health in Ann Arbor.
The milestone surgery was a robotically assisted myomectomy performed by Matthew Vettathu, M.D., who specializes in using minimally invasive robotic techniques for gynecological surgery.
"We are incredibly excited about reaching this milestone,” said Jonathan Levy, M.D., robotic surgery program chair at UM Health-Sparrow Lansing. “15,000 cases speak not only to the longevity of our robotic surgery program, but also the dedication to remain on the cutting-edge of surgery as we look to the future.”
UM Health-Sparrow has been utilizing robotic-assisted surgery with da Vinci robotic surgical systems since 2005 to complete procedures in several specialty areas including urology, thoracic surgery, gynecology, bariatrics and general surgery. The leading-edge technology allows the program’s 38 specially trained surgeons to see and move in three dimensions, giving them the ability to perform delicate operations with greater precision but requiring only tiny surgical openings. By avoiding the large incisions of open surgery, this non-invasive procedure results in less pain and scarring, a shorter recovery time and a lower risk of infection.
“Over the last four years, our robotic surgery growth has taken off, with over 5,000 cases performed since 2021. I am proud of how many options patients have to receive the highest level of surgical care possible here at UM Health-Sparrow. We look forward to the next 15,000 cases,” Levy said.
Our patients have convenient 24/7 access to robotic surgery close to home. The health system utilizes a fleet of six da Vinci systems and an Ion robot for innovative bronchoscopy procedures, performing roughly 1,700 robotic surgeries per year at UM Health-Sparrow Lansing, UM Health-Sparrow Carson and UM Health-Sparrow Eaton hospitals.
UM Health-Sparrow was also selected as the only hospital in Michigan and among a few nationwide to perform initial surgeries using the recently U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved da Vinci 5 robotic system. This was during the initial evaluation period of the latest 5th-generation robotic technology via clinical trials. Intuitive Surgical, the global leader in minimally invasive surgical care, says the da Vinci 5 system includes more than 150 enhancements, notably the first-of-its-kind force sensing technology which helps surgeons measure the impacts of force on tissue. Other improvements include, enhanced accuracy, precision, next-generation 3D visualization and more.
“This is the result of our commitment to our core value of innovation,” said Denny Martin, D.O., president, UM Health-Sparrow Lansing. “University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Lansing will continue to explore ways to advance our robotic surgery program to allow patients to be treated for the most complex medical conditions close to home.”
To learn more about the world-class surgical robotics program at UM Health-Sparrow, visit UofMHealthSparrow.org/Surgery.
