Dr. Shane Monnett says the da Vinci Robotics System speeds up the surgery and recovery time.
The robotic surgery method, known as the da Vinci Robotics System, makes the surgery more precise and the recovery faster.
Dr. Monnett said completing 100 surgeries of this type would not have been a big deal if only half of them were successful, but so far, he’s had a 100% success rate.
Monnett arrived at YRMC six months ago, but has been specializing in this robotic surgery for 12 years. “This is space-age medicine. This is one of the trends of the future. We are just catching up with medical trends outside of Prescott, just like most rural areas. Patients don’t have to go to Phoenix for this anymore,” he said.
YRMC can now do rectal or colon cancer surgeries, which it had not been able to do previously. The robotic method has been so successful that the hospital is booked until January and two new surgeon partners will join Monnett’s team by the end of the year.
“This way, we will be able to do more sooner,” he said.
Monnett grew up in Wickenburg and has spent the last 12 years in Charleston, West Virginia, specializing in robotic surgery.
“It means we only have to make small incisions and it takes out the fatigue factor for the doctor. Yesterday, I removed a rectal tumor and the patient went home today without any pain or medication,” he said, adding that a massive tumor removed from a colon usually takes a seven-day recovery period, but with the robot, it takes just two.
As a result, he says, patients have less exposure to infections that occur in hospitals, because they are released sooner. “Patients are back on their feet quicker, so they are less likely to get blood clots or pneumonia.”
Since its introduction, the da Vinci system has been used in multiple disciplines, including urology, gynecology, heart, stomach, colon and general surgery. “We are incredibly proud of our surgical team and the staff who have embraced this technology and worked diligently to achieve this milestone,” said Monnett. “The da Vinci Robotics System has not only improved patient outcomes but also broadened the range of surgical options available in our community.”
The robotic surgeries are not more expensive than conventional surgeries and are covered by insurance like any other surgery, he said. “I like to do what’s more affordable.”
Monnett oversees the robotic surgeries, along with surgical technicians Elizabeth Dubois and Alicia Ball. Most of the robotic surgeries take only an hour, he says. The robot is battery operated. It is plugged in while it’s working.
When patients first hear about the robotic surgery, they often have concerns that the robot is working by itself, but it is not, says Monnett, as the doctor and surgeon assistants are always there. “This is a team sport, just like any surgery.” QCBN
By Stan Bindell, QCBN
Photo by Stan Bindell: Dr. Shane Monnett says that with robotics surgery, patients are back on their feet quicker and are less likely to get blood clots or pneumonia.