Saddleback Memorial Surgeon First on the West Coast to Perform Single-Site Robotic Hysterectomy

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., May 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA recently became the first hospital on the West Coast to perform a hysterectomy using single site robotic technology. This new surgical option provides women with a state-of-the-art, minimally invasive approach to gynecological surgery.

Marc Winter, M.D., a highly regarded Orange County gynecologist and surgeon and medical director of minimally invasive surgery at Saddleback Memorial, led the surgical team that performed the hysterectomy.  The single site technology allows the procedure to be performed using a single incision virtually hidden in the patient's navel. 

With robotic surgery, patients typically have less bleeding and less pain, fast recovery and a shorter hospital stay than with conventional laparoscopic surgeries and operations involving larger incisions.

"With the addition of single site surgery, Saddleback Memorial continues to lead in the evolution of surgical technologies," says Dr. Winter. "We're thrilled to offer our patients the most technically advanced surgical options available to address women's health issues."

"This is yet another breakthrough in leading-edge choices in women's care available here," says Steve Geidt, CEO for Saddleback Memorial. "Having the opportunity to treat our patients using this state-of-the-art technology is another example of how we continue to carry our mission forward: to improve the health and well being of individuals, families and our communities through innovation and the pursuit of excellence."

In 2012, Saddleback Memorial became the only robotic surgery epicenter for gynecology in Orange and Los Angeles counties, and is one of only 22 such centers in the nation. As an official teaching center, the surgical team—led by Dr. Winter—regularly trains physicians from around the nation in advanced robotic surgery techniques.

"This single-site, robot-assisted hysterectomy is not the first accolade Saddleback Memorial has received in the field of robotic surgery," says Geidt. "Our clinical outcomes, experience and dedication led to our rare and elite designation as a robotic surgery epicenter."

For more information on Saddleback Memorial's minimally invasive surgery programs, go to memorialcare.org/sbsurgery.

About Saddleback Memorial Medical Center
Saddleback Memorial provides exceptional medical expertise across a range of treatment areas including cancer, stroke, and cardiac care.  Innovations like robotic surgery, low dose CT, and dedicated breast MRI set us apart. In addition, The Women's Hospital at Saddleback Memorial – Laguna Hills offers special comfort and care to new mothers and their babies.  A proud member of the MemorialCare Health System and named Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for three consecutive years, Saddleback Memorial continues to provide comprehensive care for patients at every stage of their lives.  For more information, go to memorialcare.org/saddleback.

About MemorialCare Health System
MemorialCare Health System, a not-for-profit integrated delivery system with 12,000 employees and 2,300 physicians, includes 200 clinical care sites, six top hospitals —Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Miller Children 's Hospital Long Beach, Community Hospital Long Beach, Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center and Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills and San Clemente; a medical group—MemorialCare Medical Group; an Independent Practice Association (IPA)—Greater Newport Physicians; MemorialCare HealthExpress retail clinics; ambulatory surgery centers and numerous outpatient health facilities. An innovator in health care delivery, MemorialCare focuses on evidence-based, best practice medicine where physicians and health professionals study best clinical practices and implement them at MemorialCare's sites with outcomes frequently exceeding state and national averages. For more information, visit memorialcare.org.

SOURCE Saddleback Memorial Medical Center