Iowa’s only robotic surgery system is now installed and ready to “operate.” Amy Bethel, director of surgical services at Central Iowa Health System, explains it will let real doctors do microscopic work.The brand named the Da Vinci Surgical System, it lets a doctor use a console to operate tiny robotic arms and look through 3-D cameras, to do smaller work than a human can do alone. Bethel says the system’s getting rave reviews so far from surgeons training on it.They like being able to move in all directions with the miniature “wrist” of the robotic arm and watch their work in 3-D. And Bethel says there are many advantages for the patient, including smaller incisions, less pain, shorter time in the hospital and quicker recovery. Bethel says it’s the only robotic surgery system in Iowa, and patients may be referred from other hospitals in the state.
