Dr. Annabelle Lopez Performs 1st Robotic Gynecology Surgery in Weslaco Area

Minimally-invasive surgery performed with da Vinci Xi robot at Knapp Medical Center

Annabelle Lopez, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, has performed the first robotic gynecology surgery in the Mid-Valley area, utilizing a state-of-the-art da Vinci Xi surgical robot at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco.

Dr. Lopez performed the ground-breaking, minimally-invasive surgery on January 14 at Knapp Medical Center.  The surgery went well and the patient, a woman from Mercedes, went home the very same day.

“The patient is doing amazingly well,” Dr. Lopez said following the surgery. “We are excited to bring this state-of-the-art technology to the Mid-Valley, so patients don’t have to go to other hospitals further away from home and their family support system.”

By utilizing the da Vinci Xi surgical robot at Knapp Medical Center, Dr. Lopez can perform minimally-invasive procedures such as hysterectomies through much smaller incisions than traditional surgery.

“Patients have a faster recovery time, with less possible complications, in many cases,” Dr. Lopez added.

This means that in many cases, patients may have a shorter hospital stay — along with less pain, less loss of blood, less scarring, and less risk of infection.

In addition to gynecological surgery, the da Vinci robot can also be used for general surgeries, such as appendectomies, as well as for urology, thoracic, cardiac, and gastrointestinal surgery.  In October, Dr. Ernesto Garza, Jr., performed the Mid-Valley’s first general surgery using with the robot, also at Knapp Medical Center.

The surgeon controls the robotic-assisted system at all times.  The robotic system translates the surgeon’s hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body.

The da Vinci Xi robot also features a 3D-HD vision system, which provides surgeons with a highly-magnified view — virtually extending their eyes and hands into the patient.

Knapp Medical Center’s Women Center has received many awards for care of its patients, including being named a “5-Star Recipient for Gynecologic Procedures” (for three years in a row) by Healthgrades, a national company which specializes in research about healthcare.

For more information on robotic-assisted and other minimally-invasive surgical options, please contact your physician and visit www.KnappMed.org.