South Texas Health System Edinburg To Host Community Celebration To Commemorate 10th Anniversary Of Its Robotic Surgery Program

The special event will honor the surgeons and operating room staff who’ve helped the program receive national recognition as a Center of Excellence for minimally invasive, robotic and hernia surgery, as well as herald the program’s future with the acquisition of the da Vinci V Robotic Surgical System

Since the first-ever robot-assisted surgery was performed 40 years ago, robotic surgery has helped revolutionize modern medicine by enhancing precision and minimizing invasiveness in procedures.

Following FDA approval of Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci Surgical System in 2000, a significant increase in the percentage of surgeons using robotic systems between 2012 and 2018 has been reported, including specialists at South Texas Health System Edinburg.

Since launching its robotic surgery program in 2015 as the first facility in South Texas to employ the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System, which was considered by many in the medical community to be the leading robotic surgical system of its time, STHS Edinburg has helped significantly improve community health by offering more precise, minimally invasive procedures that lead to faster recovery times, fewer complications and reduced hospital stays.

“STHS Edinburg has always been committed to leveraging the latest medical technology like the da Vinci Xi to improve patient outcomes, including reducing surgical complications, improving safety and shortening recovery times for patients,” says Lance Ames, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Edinburg & STHS Children’s. “The robotic surgery program has allowed us to deliver the highest level of care possible for the people of the Rio Grande Valley while establishing ourselves as a premier facility for minimally invasive procedures.”

In February 2021, STHS Edinburg – a Center of Excellence in robotic, minimally invasive and hernia surgery, as accredited by the Surgical Review Corporation – acquired a second da Vinci Xi surgical system, which allowed the facility to expand its robotic surgery footprint in the community.

Led by STHS Clinics surgeons Dr. Bob Saggi and Dr. Sandra Esquivel, STHS Edinburg has completed more than 4,000 robotic surgery procedures, including gallbladder removals, hernia repairs and colectomies, which have helped lower the risk of infection and other surgical complications.

“We’re honored to be a leader in bringing robotic surgical technology to our community that makes a profound difference in our patients’ lives,” says Ames. “With the experience and compassion of our community surgeons and the operating room staff at STHS Edinburg that’s dedicated to providing advanced surgical care, the level of care we’re able to provide our patients rivals that found in larger cities outside the Valley.”

To commemorate the facility’s decade of nationally recognized robotic surgical care and herald the program’s next chapter with the arrival of the da Vinci 5 (DV5) Robotic Surgical System, which builds upon the capabilities of previous da Vinci systems like the da Vinci Xi, STHS Edinburg will host a special community celebration on Thursday, July 17, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Taking place in the main lobby of STHS Edinburg, the event will honor the community surgeons and facility’s operating room staff who have helped the program achieve national recognition, highlight the impact robotic surgery has had on community health and shine a spotlight on the new technology helping further improve patient outcomes.

The event is open to the community. For details, visit the STHS Facebook Events page.

For more information on the robotic surgery program at STHS Edinburg, visit www.southtexashealthsystemedinburg.com.

About South Texas Health System

South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart and seven freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen, Pharr and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.