Robotic Surgery

At Riverview Health, we’re proud to offer the latest technologies in robotic-assisted surgery. We offer the da Vinci surgical system for minimally invasive general and gynecological surgeries, the ExcelsiusGPS for spine procedures, the CORI Surgical System for partial and total knee replacement, and Aquablation Therapy for enlarged prostate treatment.

Da Vinci Surgical System

The Da Vinci Surgical System is used for a variety of surgeries:

Gynecological surgeries to treat endometriosis, heavy uterine bleeding, uterine fibroids, uterine prolapse, myomectomy and hysterectomy.

General surgeries to treat colorectal cancer, colorectal polyps, diverticulitis and other abdominal conditions.

During a da Vinci robotic surgery, the physician operates from a console across the room from the patient. While the doctor remains in control at all times, the system uses a high-definition camera, 3D vision and a magnified view to seamlessly translate her or his movements into precise, real-time movements of the surgical instruments.

Using this technology, surgeons perform complex procedures through just a few small surgical incisions. The system’s precision allows doctors to access and operate on the necessary fields without creating additional trauma to unaffected areas.

Studies have shown that when compared to patients having open surgery, da Vinci surgical patients experience shorter hospital stays, less pain and blood loss, minimal scarring and a faster recovery and return to normal activities.

Although the system is robotic, it cannot operate on its own. The surgeon remains in control the entire time.

Riverview Health physicians who use da Vinci surgical system:

General Surgeons

• George Negrete, MD
• Carly Thoma-Perry, DO

OB/GYNs

• Holly Storm, DO

Urologists

• Benjamin Martin, MD

ExcelsiusGPS for Spine Surgery

Riverview Health is proud to be the first hospital in Indiana to offer ExcelsiusGPS technology.

ExcelsiusGPS is a robotic spinal navigation system designed to increase safety and accuracy within the operating room. During spine surgery, the robot allows surgeons to make smaller incisions, resulting in less muscle trauma and blood loss for the patient, as well as a shorter hospital stay, quicker recovery and less pain.

ExcelsiusGPS provides improved visualization of patient anatomy throughout the procedure to help optimize patient treatment. It also streamlines surgical workflow and reduces overall radiation exposure to surgeons and staff.

Physicians who use ExcelsiusGPS:

• Praveen Perni, MD

CORI Surgical System for Knee Replacements

The CORI Surgical System is an advancement in the way orthopedic surgeons perform partial and total knee replacement.

It’s a handheld device that works in conjunction with the surgeon’s skilled hands to achieve accurate positioning of components during planning and surgery. The CORI Surgical System is the latest technology in joint surgery for image-free smart mapping to build 3D models without the need for CT or MRI scans. The use of 3D modeling allows for surgeons to more accurately place knee implants which results in shorter hospital stays following surgery and a quicker, smoother recovery.

Orthopedic surgeons who use CORI Surgical System:

• Andrew Malin, MD
• Norman Mindrebo, MD
• Scott Smith, MD

Aquablation Therapy for Enlarged Prostate

The number one reason men visit a urologist is for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or, simply put—an enlarged prostate. It’s estimated that half of men between the ages of 51-60 have BPH, and that number increases with age. Most men say their symptoms of an enlarged prostate negatively affect their quality of life—that’s why Riverview Health is here to help.

At Riverview Health, we’re proud to offer Aquablation therapy, a new minimally invasive, high-tech treatment for BPH, to help get you back to feeling like yourself.

How does it work?

Aquablation therapy is an advanced technology that uses saline to remove excess tissue from the prostate. First, the Aquablation robotic software at Riverview Health allows for advanced planning so your urologist can create a customized map of your prostate to plan the treatment approach. Then, the minimally invasive procedure is performed under anesthesia and uses a real-time, image-guided robot to insert and hold a waterjet that removes excess prostate tissue. The heat-free waterjet is the first of its kind and precisely removes prostate tissue and minimizes thermal damage to surrounding tissue. Aquablation takes less than an hour and provides long-term relief without an incision in the abdomen.

Surgeons who perform Aquablation

• Benjamin Martin, MD