Methodist Health System | Methodist Charlton Medical Center | Shine

KEEPING UP

Many innovative surgical techniques are available at Methodist Charlton.

Learn more about our services at

MethodistHealthSystem.org/Charlton .

Julia Mijares (far left) is glad she had Single-Site

gallbladder removal with the da Vinci Surgical System

at Methodist Charlton. Now she can enjoy cooking

and baking — and quality time with her family —

again without pain.

Methodist Charlton Medical Center

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Winter 2014 – 2015

The average American will undergo seven operations during a lifetime.

But surgery has come a long way over the centuries. Here’s a look at

the history of innovation that brought surgery to its current, highly

efficient state:

1730s

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European surgeons claim their own profession, leaving

behind their status as “barber-surgeons.”

1842

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The first patient is anesthetized when a dentist in New York

uses ether for a tooth extraction.

1865

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With a successful procedure on a boy with a compound

leg fracture, Joseph Lister shows that using antiseptic can

prevent infection.

1902

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The first successful surgery in the U.S. on a beating heart

is performed to repair a knife wound. The 13-year-old

patient

survives.

1930s – 1940s

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Antibiotics such as sulfa drugs and penicillin make

surgeries safer.

1952

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The first artificial heart valve is implanted.

1954

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The first bariatric surgery is performed.

The

first hip replacement surgery is performed. Today,

327,000 total hip replacements are done each year.

The first successful organ transplant, a kidney, takes place.

The success rate for transplant surgeries will be low until

the 1980s.

1967

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The first heart transplant is performed (in South Africa). The

53-year-old patient lives for 18 days.

1985

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Minimally invasive surgery advances with the first

gallbladder removal.

The

first robot-assisted surgery is performed. Today, more

than 200,000 robotic procedures are performed each year.

1990s–2000s

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Many more procedures are done with minimally invasive

and robot-assisted techniques. New technologies turn some

previously difficult surgeries into outpatient procedures.

In 1992, Methodist Health System performs the first

combined heart-kidney-pancreas transplant.

TODAY

�� At least 50 million surgeries are done each year in the U.S.,

including more than 2,500 different procedures.

Surgery then and now

fatty foods means fewer stones, less blockage,

and less pain.”

No matter what Julia tried, however, the

pain only worsened. Within a few days, she

was back in the ED. This time she not only

had gallstones but also pancreatitis from

gallstones blocking the pancreatic tube.

Surgery was inevitable.

A robotic solution

Dr. Tibrewal was able to offer Julia a new

minimally invasive surgical technique for

gallbladder removal: Single-Site™ with the

robotic da Vinci® Surgical System.

Julia admits she was a little skeptical of

robotic surgery, even though she knew the

surgeon would be in complete control. She says

it was comforting to know that Dr. Tibrewal

is specially trained in operating with da Vinci,

which gives surgeons increased visibility,

dexterity, and precision when operating.

“The outcome was awesome!” Julia says

about her Single-Site procedure, which

required only one incision through her belly

button, instead of the four incisions with

traditional laparoscopic surgery.

Recovery was extremely fast. By the third

day she was out of the hospital, and she

returned to work within a week. With the

pain gone, the month of April ended much

better than March had.

“No one could believe how I recovered

so fast, pain-free, and with almost no visible

scar,” Julia says. “I would refer anyone to

Dr. Tibrewal and Methodist Charlton.”

Pay attention to your body

Since the surgery, Julia doesn’t have diet

restrictions. The busy mother of five is back

to enjoying activities with her family, like

cooking and baking.

She advises people to pay attention to their

symptoms: “Follow up with your physician,

especially if you have pain. Your upset

stomach could be telling you something.”