SAMC Offers Robotically-assisted Surgery to Lung Patients

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Mar 25 2014 5:52 PM

DOTHAN, Ala. – The region’s first ever robotic assisted thorax surgery was performed in March at Southeast Alabama Medical Center (SAMC) by cardiothoracic surgeon Elias Quintos, MD. This groundbreaking surgery comes eight years after SAMC became the first hospital in the region to use robotics surgery.

 

Dr. Quintos, who joined Southeast Cardiovascular Associates in February, performed the thoracosopy with the surgical robot. The operation was a pulmonary procedure and included exploratory surgery.

 

“The whole operation from start to finish was like a superb, well performed concert,” Dr. Quintos said. “It is very satisfying to see that our team not only has an innate aptitude for this kind of surgery but also the contagious enthusiasm to make the program succeed. I am confident that we will soon perform more complex procedures.”

 

Chris Holland, RN, SAMC surgery director, said the new procedure has great implications for patients at SAMC. “It will allow us a better way to surgically treat patients who are diagnosed with lung problems. Using robotics means that a long incision is replaced by a few very small incisions. We also expect recovery times to decrease.”

 

Holland added that patients from the Wiregrass will no longer need to drive to Birmingham or Atlanta to receive this specialized treatment.

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