Learn ways to stay safe and healthy at work. See page 7.
IN
SIDE
EVENTS
G AMC
FEATURING A NEW
HEALTHLINE IN 2013
GAMC is excited to debut
a new format for its TV
show HEALTHline. The
show will take more time
bringing viewers behind
the scenes with hospital
specialists. Stay tuned
for more HEALTHline
details!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
FOR THE DASH!
Join the
Glendale community for
a family-friendly 5K run/
walk at the Alex Theatre.
The Dash raises funds to
ght stroke and educate
the community about
stroke. Visit
Glendale
DowntownDash.com
to
learn more.
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!
Get information on
upcoming GAMC events
and health screenings.
Find the latest health
care news.
Share your experi-
ences and ideas.
Like us at
facebook
.
com/GlendaleAdventist
.
T
he da Vinci® Surgical System, available at
Glendale Adventist Medical Center (GAMC),
provides surgeons with an alternative to both
traditional open surgery and conventional
laparoscopy, putting a surgeon’s hands at the controls of
a state-of-the-art robotic platform. e da Vinci system
enables surgeons to perform even the most complex and
delicate procedures through very small incisions with
unmatched precision.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING DA VINCI?
e magni ed view
of the operating eld, combined with the exibility and precision of
the computer-controlled surgical tools, allows for very small incisions
during surgery.
“
Compared with
traditional surgery,
these smaller incisions
potentially result in
less blood loss, less
pain, less scarring and
shorter recovery time,”
says John Kirk, MD,
medical director of
robotics surgery at GAMC. “We are working hard to transform the way
you think about surgery. With GAMC’s advanced robotics program, we
are reducing hospital stays, lowering complication rates and shortening
recovery times for patients.”
“
In procedures such as hysterectomies, the da Vinci can o er numerous
potential bene ts—as mentioned above—over traditional approaches,”
Dr. Kirk says. “Bene ts of da Vinci are greatest when performing more
challenging procedures like radical hysterectomy for gynecologic cancer
and pelvic support surgeries for vaginal and uterine prolapse.”
GAMC is one of few hospitals in the area to perform the latter of the
two surgeries mentioned.
A da Vinci hysterectomy also allows a surgeon better visualization of
anatomy, which is especially critical when working around delicate and
con ned structures like the ureter, which connects the kidneys to the
urinary bladder, and other ne blood vessels and nerve bers, thus limiting
side e ects, such as pain and bleeding, which may result in additional
surgeries. is means that surgeons have a distinct advantage when
performing an abdominal hysterectomy or a complex, radical hysterectomy
involving adhesions from prior pelvic surgery or non-localized cancer.
WHAT SURGERIES CAN IT BE USED FOR?
e U.S. Food and Drug
Administration rst approved the da Vinci system in
for a limited
number of surgeries, including gallbladder removal and surgical
treatment of severe heartburn. Over the years, the system has been
authorized for use in an increasing variety of procedures. ese include:
Removal of the uterus (hysterectomy).
Removal of the prostate (prostatectomy).
Removal of uterine broids (myomectomy).
Surgeries to treat cancer in the bladder, colon and kidneys.
While clinical studies support the e ectiveness of the da Vinci Surgical
Systemwhen used inminimally invasive surgery, individual resultsmay vary.
Sources: UNC Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology;
Health & Healing in the Triangle
,
Vol. 8, No. 3, pp 22–23.
A MINIMALIST APPROACH TO SURGERY
DA VINCI
To learn more about the
da Vinci system, visit
GlendaleAdventist.com/
daVinci
or call
(818) 409-8100.
© 2012 Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
Nonpro t Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Glendale Adventist
Medical Center
1509
Wilson Terrace
Glendale, CA 91206
3
CANCER
YOU CAN LOOK GOOD, AND FEEL BETTER TOO
4
STROKE
SPECIAL SURGERY HEALS FROM THE INSIDE OUT