Local doctors are among the first to use a new type of surgical robot

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Doctors at Christ Hospital are among the first in the country to use a new type of robot for surgery.

It’s called the Single-Port (SP) da Vinci Robotic Surgery System.

Dr. Justin Cox is one of the first urologists in the country to be trained in the use of this system.

It is especially designed for delicate procedures such as those on the kidneys or prostate.

“This allows us to perform the same operations as with the multiport system, but in a different way. And these new methods are less traumatic for the patient because we can reach the same organs, such as prostate or kidney tumors, through incisions that do not penetrate the intestinal cavity.”

The system has tiny tools that are operated by the surgeon via a console.

A tiny camera at the end of one of the tools allows precise navigation through a single port instead of several.

“In prostate surgery, we can now perform what’s called extraperitoneal surgery through a single-port system, giving us access to the space in front of the bladder. This way, we completely avoid the area where the intestines are. From there, it’s the same surgery, but we achieve better visualization of the prostate edges and vital structures because the camera gives us wider angles to see around the curves that we couldn’t see before.”

In some cases, the surgery can be performed the same day and you can go home shortly after the procedure.

Others require a few days of hospitalization.