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for doing surgery this way is to avoid
an incision in the throat, which helps
preserve the functions of speaking,
swallowing, tasting, and breathing.
“The second reason is that the
surgeon can see better and do more
intricate surgery. Even though the
mouth is a narrow area and my
dexterity is limited, the da Vinci’s
robotic arm extensions allow me to do
everything I would normally do on an
open procedure inside the throat.”
To prevent the spread of cancer
and avoid later chemotherapy and
radiation treatments, Dr. Pandit
removed additional tissue surrounding
the tumor, but it was still far less
than would have been required
with conventional open surgery.
While removing the tumor required
a more extensive recovery for Westlund,
she’s grateful for Dr. Pandit’s actions.
“It was difficult, but I understand
that it would have been worse had
Dr. Pandit not used da Vinci,” she says.
“He made a good decision to remove
what was necessary, because I don’t
want to go through radiation. There’s
the bright light after the surgeries:
I’m cancer-free.”
Care you can trust
Westlund says throughout both
procedures and hospital stays, the skill,
kindness, and compassion of Dr. Pandit;
his physician assistant, PamMatijevich,
PA-C; and the team of nurses at
Methodist Dallas were constant.
Dr. Pandit and Matijevich actually
comprise the Metroplex’s only
dedicated TORS team, which makes
a crucial difference in the success of
the da Vinci procedures.
“The care was perfect,” Westlund says,
adding that everyone was attentive to
her comfort and incredibly thorough.
She was still raving about her care after
the second surgery: “I awoke smiling.
I was like, ‘I love Pam and Dr. Pandit.’
Before the surgeries, I had become
so used to the growth that I couldn’t
remember my mouth without it.”
But now? No more sore throats,
no more pain, no more breaking
points — just a bright future for
her and her family.
In addition to TORS, Methodist
Dallas offers minimally invasive da Vinci
robotic surgery for:
w
Hysterectomy
w
Myomectomy for uterine fibroids
w
Sacrocolpopexy for vaginal
vault prolapse
w
Prostatectomy for prostate cancer.
For more information, including
animations and patient success stories,
go to
www.MethodistHealthSystem.org/
DaVinci
.
Texas law prohibits hospitals from practicing medicine. The
physicians on the Methodist Health System medical staff
are independent practitioners who are not employees or
agents of Methodist Health System.
ALLSMILES:
Thanks to surgeon Rajiv Pandit, MD, and the da Vinci Surgical System, young momMaggie Westlund is free of
throat cancer and loving her life.
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Methodist Health System
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❁
Spring 2012
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