True to its commitment to bring world-class care to patients in Brooklyn, the NYU Langone Health System is building a sophisticated, technologically advanced and clinically integrated health network in the borough. This infusion of expanded services and access to medical experts is providing easier access to some of the best healthcare available in Brooklyn at NYU Lutheran Medical Center, at the health system's central hub in the borough.
Among the first clinical upgrades at NYU Lutheran has been the installation of the da Vinci surgical system, one of the most advanced technologies used in robot-assisted surgery.
"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 Diana Contreras, MD, chief of Women's Services, and associate chief, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYU Lutheran, and who now also directs NYU Lutheran's robotic surgery program.
Before coming to Brooklyn, Dr. Contreras was a director of robotic surgery at North Shore-LIJ (now Northwell Health System) and for several years she was ranked among the top robotic surgeons in the nation. With her extensive experience in robot-assisted gynecological procedures, she was a natural choice to lead NYU Lutheran's new robotic surgery team.
At NYU Lutheran, Dr. 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. Strict protocols for robotic training and certification established by NYU Langone are followed.
Other advantages of robot-assisted surgery, Dr. Contreras points out, 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. Many procedures can be done without a lengthy stay or even an overnight in the hospital.
"Patients do better and feel better," said Dr. 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."
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," Dr. Contreras added. "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."
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