Lehigh Valley Health Network: Leading the Way in Robotic Surgery Technology with Da Vinci 5 Surgical System.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is at the forefront of robotic surgery technology, becoming one of the first health systems worldwide and the only one in Pennsylvania to offer patients the Da Vinci 5 surgical system. The advanced system is now available at Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest in Allentown, providing patients with a variety of surgical procedures.

The Da Vinci 5 system from Intuitive is designed to improve patient outcomes, efficiency, and insights while lowering the cost of care based on more than a decade of research and development with over 14 million procedures performed using various generations of Da Vinci technology.

James Miller, president of LVHN’s Northampton region and senior vice president of Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, emphasized the importance of utilizing robotics in surgery for better clinical outcomes and overall value rather than simply for the technology’s sake. The Da Vinci 5 surgical system allows surgeons to have better tactile sensations and visual information, addressing ergonomic concerns as well. Surgeons can now sense and measure the force exerted on tissue during surgery thanks to force feedback technology, resulting in gentler surgeries for patients.

Dr. Myrian Curet, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Intuitive, highlighted the advantages of the Da Vinci 5 system, such as up to 43 percent less force on tissue during surgery based on preclinical trials. Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence has expanded its robotic surgery capabilities with 17 Da Vinci systems across 15 specialties, providing patients with a range of minimally invasive surgical options. Dr. Michael Pasquale, physician-in-chief at Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence, emphasized the experience and expertise obtained from performing a high volume of robotic surgeries, resulting in less pain, reduced blood loss, and quicker recovery times for patients.

In conclusion, LVHN’s commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology like the Da Vinci 5 surgical system is leading to improved patient outcomes while also reducing costs through increased efficiency and insights gained from decades of research and development. With a wide range of surgical options available through its expansion into robotics across multiple specialties