Valerie Sugiyama, MD, and Isabel Lazo, MD, with he da Vinci Surgical System at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley.
Enrique Mendoza
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At ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley, future of healing is high-tech
10.04.2021
By Emma Yasinski
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-ValleyÌýis committed to providing state-of-the-art care to patients all over the East Bay.Ìý
From robots that assist with surgery and reduce recovery times to innovative devices that treat stubborn hernia-related back pain, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ – ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley harnesses advanced technology to bring the best care closer to home.
Here’s a look at these and other new technologies are providing patients with high-quality orthopaedic, cancer and stroke care, as well as a preview of changes to the ambulatory surgery center to expand and improve its services.ÌýÌý
The da Vinci Surgical System
Aided by theÌý,Ìýsurgeons can perform complex operations while making only tiny incisions to minimize pain, bleeding and recovery time. InÌýÌýusing the system at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley, doctors removed a woman’s uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes to treat her endometrial cancer.Ìý
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The Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Pleasanton offers the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ (SHC) experience with the convenience of a local community clinic.
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The woman said she felt “pretty good†three days after the surgery and was making “an incredibly fast recovery.â€Ìý
How it works: Two surgeons work in tandem during an operation: One controls a robotic arm to perform the surgery, while the other stays at the patient’s bedside.Ìý
The first surgeon manipulates the arm, which is equipped with a small camera, surgical tools and other delicate instruments. While the surgeon works, the camera displays three-dimensional images of the surgical site on a monitor. The surgeon views those images to help guide the arm and tools to the surgical site and conduct the operation. The doctor at the bedside closely observes the patient during the procedure.
Through the support of the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley Charitable Foundation, we were able to make this significant investment to enhance the care we provide to our community and benefit our patients with a faster recovery, less pain and an earlier return to their daily activities," saidÌýRick Shumway, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley’s president and CEO.
Reherniation prevention and repair
More than a decade ago,ÌýEugene Carragee, MD, professor of orthopaedic surgery atÌý, began ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ into why between 5% and 20% of patients who had surgery to repair spinal disc hernias experienced painful recurrences of the condition.Ìý
A spinal hernia occurs when soft inner tissue from a person’s spinal disc pokes through the tough outer layer, pinching nerves and causing pain. Though the surgery, called a discectomy, is generally simple and successful, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ led by Carragee showed that the likelihood of reherniation was tied to the size of the injury, or hole, created by the original hernia. Now, during aÌý, physicians use a closure device to block the hole and stop hernias from coming back. ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley is the first in California to use the device.
How it works: The device, called the Barricaid, is made of woven mesh attached to a titanium anchor that is implanted into bone. The mesh blocks the opening created in the outer layer of the spinal cord where the soft tissue had squeezed out and pinched nerves.
Eugene Carragee, MD
Eugene Carragee, MD, professor of orthopaedic surgery atÌý.
Knee replacement robotÌý
In January, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new robotic device that assists in full-knee replacements — delicate surgeries that can require substantial recovery time. The device allows doctors to customize the placement of knee-replacement prostheses to accommodate each patient’s anatomy and reduce damage to nearby soft tissues, thereby decreasing pain and potentially shortening recovery.ÌýÌý
“It’s not one size fits all anymore,†saidÌýAaron Salyapongse,ÌýMD, aÌýStanford MedicineÌýclinical associate professor of orthopaedics and medical director of joint replacement at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley.ÌýÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, nurses and surgical staff at the hospital are being trained to use the equipment, and the first surgery is scheduled to take place early in October.ÌýÌý
How it Works:ÌýDuring surgery, the table-mounted robotic device, called theÌý, registers a patient’s knee, scanning constantly and sending images to a monitor so the surgeon can analyze the position of the joint. The machine is equipped with a tool that allows physicians to execute the customized surgical plan with precision.ÌýÌý
“The goal is to provide the best surgery and the best knee replacement we can for each individual patient,†Salyapongse said. “With this device, we have added a whole new layer of data that gives us that ability.â€Ìý
Advanced ambulatory care on the horizon
In the spring of 2022, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley will debut its Livermore ambulatory surgery center under new licensure, allowing for advanced-level outpatient procedures in a nonhospital setting. The change is designed to streamline operations, specialize the services offered and improve outpatient care.
The ambulatory surgery center operates at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley’s Livermore campus.Ìý
Among other services, physicians at the center will conduct orthopaedic procedures, such as total hip and knee replacement, along with ophthalmological and gastrointestinal procedures, such as colonoscopies.Ìý
Ultimately, this results in delivering better care to the patient at a more affordable cost.
To support procedures that have previously been offered only in a hospital setting, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley is improving sterile processing at the ambulatory facility and is purchasing new operating room lights, tables and surgical instruments.
“The change in license to a freestanding facility gives us the opportunity to expand procedures available in Livermore and allows us to streamline operating and clinical efficiencies,†said Kyle Wichelmann, chief financial officer at ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Tri-Valley. “Ultimately, this results in delivering better care to the patient at a more affordable cost.â€Ìý
About ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ seeks to heal humanity through science and compassion, one patient at a time, through its commitment to care, educate and discover. ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ delivers clinical innovation across its inpatient services, specialty health centers, physician offices, virtual care offerings and health plan programs.
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ is part of Stanford Medicine, a leading academic health system that includes the Stanford University School of Medicine, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, and Stanford Children’s Health, with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Stanford Medicine is renowned for breakthroughs in treating cancer, heart disease, brain disorders and surgical and medical conditions. For more information, visit: www.stanfordhealthcare.org.