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In the growing field
of minimally invasive surgery, University
of Chicago surgeon-scientists pioneer
techniques that minimize tissue damage,
pain, and scarring, laying the groundwork
for new surgical protocols nation-wide. |
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After undergoing the University’s
first-ever robotic surgery to remove a non-functioning
kidney, 70-year-old Christine Fulara made a remarkably
rapid recovery. Just four days after the procedure,
she was able to take walks around the block. Her quick
transition from operating table to outdoor trek was
made possible not only by her skilled surgeon, but
also by a robot named da Vinci.
As one of the nation’s largest
and most sophisticated surgical centers, the University
of Chicago is at the forefront of a field undergoing
a remarkable transformation propelled by technology.
Smaller and more flexible instruments, paired with
advanced visualization technologies, like those of
the da Vinci robot, are vastly expanding the applications
and potential of minimally invasive surgery.
Chicago’s concentration
of accomplished surgeons consistently attracts two
types of specialized patients – those with the
most challenging conditions and those with unique
health problems that could benefit from state-of-the-art
approaches. From the tiniest of babies who would struggle
under major incisions, to adults requiring highly
technical spinal, abdominal, or orthopaedic surgeries,
patients benefit from innovative and advanced techniques
available only at the University of Chicago.
University of Chicago surgeons
are highly trained specialists who advance the surgical
field. They are national leaders in medical research
and technical experts, who bring observations from
the operating room back to the laboratory. There they
work side by side with dedicated research scientists
to develop ever more complex and effective treatments
for their patients.
For example, Neurosurgery Department
chair Richard Fessler developed a unique method to
remove certain spinal tumors. He is the only neurosurgeon
in the nation performing this technique. Although
several Chicago-area neurosurgeons perform minimally
invasive surgery, no other local program can perform
the specialized procedures of Fessler’s practice.
In fact, Fessler uses minimally invasive techniques
for nearly 90 percent of spinal surgery procedures
and receives referral patients from across the country
who require his unique expertise.
Surgeons like Fessler contribute
to the University of Chicago’s research-intense
environment. This results not only in expert care,
but also in a much sought after training ground for
the nation’s best and brightest students, who
compete for the chance to work directly with Chicago’s
leading surgeon-scientists. In fact, this so appeals
to American medical school graduates that each year
more than half of all surgical residency candidates
apply to Chicago’s program.
Operations like Fulara’s
provide surgical residents with an opportunity to
gain unique exposure to emerging protocols. Arieh
Shalhav, who performed Fulara’s surgery, imparts
these highly technical skills through hands-on teaching
in the operating room. Sitting at a console across
the room from Fulara’s operating room table,
Shalhav guided the da Vinci robot using glove-like
sensors highly receptive to his hand movements, while
his surgical residents observed and learned the nuance
of this sophisticated technique. While residents at
other medical centers may learn only the major, invasive
surgical procedure for Fulara’s condition, through
Shalhov’s mentoring University of Chicago residents
witnessed the da Vinci’s “arms”
as they penetrated through two tiny incisions into
Fulara’s abdomen while another incision accommodated
a camera the width of a pea.
Shalhav and other faculty members
now routinely use the da Vinci for many types of surgery,
including a range of urologic, cardiac, and prostate
procedures. They are among a select few specialists
in the country managing prostate cancer in this way.
And, for cardiac patients, the da Vinci has revolutionized
Chicago’s approach to treating some of the tiniest
patients. Pediatric cardiac surgeon Emile Bacha recently
used the robot to correct errant blood vessels constricting
the airways of a baby boy weighing less than six pounds,
eliminating the need to open the infant’s chest.
With the goal of ensuring broader
access to non-invasive procedures and better outcomes
for patients with the most challenging health problems,
the University is further expanding its corps of surgeon-scientists
and plans a construction project that
will feature the highest-quality laboratories and
surgical suites.
- A new, state-of-the-art Surgery Pavilion will
house operating rooms designed to integrate advanced
technology, such as the imaging and mechanical capabilities
that enable advanced MIS techniques. The Pavilion,
which offers a philanthropic naming opportunity,
will provide a patient resource unmatched in the
city or the nation and will dramatically enhance
Chicago’s ability to provide the most advanced
surgical care.
- Faculty working in this new facility will leverage
scientific breakthroughs to redefine surgical specialties
and subspecialties for the benefit of patients in
Chicago and beyond. Supported by investments from private philanthropists, additional clinical and research talent
will enhance and capitalize on the achievements
in several specialized surgical areas.
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