Texas Children's Hospital establishes dedicated pediatric robotic surgery program

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Sep 10, 2013, 08:00 ET

HOUSTON, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Texas Children's Hospital is excited to announce the acquisition of the da Vinci Si Surgical System which will establish the hospital's first dedicated pediatric robotic surgery program. Dr. Chester Koh, an internationally recognized expert in minimally invasive surgery, will be leading the pediatric robotic surgery program at Texas Children's as he has been instrumental in developing cutting edge techniques with both the laparoscope and the da Vinci robot.

Through the use of robotic surgery, the surgeons are able to perform minimally invasive reconstructive procedures in patients of all ages using the robot's 3-D visualization, intuitive computer-enhanced motion control, smaller instruments and increased range of motion for delicate surgical procedures.

"Robotic surgery is increasingly becoming the standard of care for many pediatric patients since the numerous benefits include smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, decreased postoperative pain medication requirements, and smaller scars," Koh says.

The da Vinci Si Surgical System will immediately be used to help patients undergoing the following procedures:

Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction / hydronephrosis—pyeloplasty
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)—ureteral re-implantation
Kidney removal
Kidney reconstructive surgery
Ureter reconstructive surgery
Bladder reconstructive surgery
Cholecystectomy—gallbladder removal
Nissen fundoplication—esophageal reflux surgery
Pelvic organ removal and reconstruction

"The da Vinci Si Surgical System will provide our surgeons with significant advancements in the way we treat our patients, including unparalleled precision, agility and control for a minimally invasive approach," said Dr. David Roth, chief of pediatric urology at Texas Children's Hospital.

The Urology Division at Texas Children's Hospital, which is ranked #1 in Texas by U.S. News & World Report, offers the most advanced surgical care for routine urological needs, as well as genitourinary problems related to congenital birth defects, trauma and a range of other medical conditions.

About Texas Children's Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to creating a community of healthy children through excellence in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation, Texas Children's has recognized Centers of Excellence in multiple pediatric subspecialties including the Cancer and Heart Centers, and operates the largest primary pediatric care network in the country. Texas Children's has completed a $1.5 billion expansion, which includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; and Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston. For more information on Texas Children's, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news from Texas Children's by visiting the online newsroom and on Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.

Contact: Elizabeth Shackouls
832-771-9593
[email protected]

SOURCE Texas Children's Hospital