Sunset Park

Robotic surgery makes its debut at NYU Lutheran

July 26, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
NYU Lutheran Medical Center's Robotic Surgery Team members: Dr. Lisamarie Colon-Ramirez; Merilyn Regollo; Dr. Diana Contreras, (director of robotics); Natacha Cohen; Agnes Diamante and Dianna Norman get ready to work in the operating room. Photo courtesy of NYU Lutheran
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Robots are now assisting surgeons in the operating room at NYU Lutheran Medical Center, thanks to a clinical upgrade fostered by the NYU Langone Health System.

NYU Langone officials announced the installation of the da Vinci Surgical System, an advanced technology using robot-assisted surgery, at NYU Lutheran Medical Center at 150 55th St. in Sunset Park.

The former Lutheran Medical Center became NYU Lutheran Medical Center following a merger last year with NYU Langone.

“We’re proud to offer patients in Brooklyn the latest innovation in robotic surgery, a minimally invasive treatment option that has many benefits, including faster recovery times and less blood loss,” said Dr. Diana Contreras, chief of Women’s Services at NYU Lutheran.

Contreras is also associate chief of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and now directs NYU Lutheran’s robotic surgery program.

Contreras is responsible for ensuring that all surgeons and other staff on the robotic surgery team are properly trained and fully qualified in robot-assisted procedures using the da Vinci Xi, which is the latest and most advanced version of the surgical system.

The advantages of robot-assisted surgery, according to Contreras, include three-dimensional vision, greater magnification and dexterity of instrumentation, finer control, ability to work in multiple areas or quadrants, smaller incisions and less pain for the patient.

Many procedures can be done without a lengthy stay or even an overnight in the hospital.

“Patients do better and feel better,” said Contreras, who uses the robot to treat abnormal tissue disorders, repair pelvic prolapse and remove benign and cancerous tumors of the uterus and other parts of the female reproductive system.

“With robot-assisted surgery for cancer, faster wound-healing means patients can move on to the next therapy without having to wait to heal,” she said.

In addition gynecologic surgery for benign and cancerous tumors, the robotic team’s urologists use the da Vinci to remove cancerous prostate, bladder and kidney growths, and treat other anomalies.

“We also plan to offer robot-assisted colorectal and abdominal procedures,” Contreras said. “Robotic-assisted surgery gives patients in Brooklyn direct access to the most advanced technology for minimally invasive surgery in their own neighborhood at NYU Lutheran.”

Before coming to Brooklyn, Contreras was a director of robotic surgery at North Shore-LIJ (now Northwell Health System) and for several years has been ranked among the top robotic surgeons in the country.

For more information on robot-assisted surgery at NYU Lutheran, call 718-630-8600.

 

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