Retiree
Bonnie Kaufman was enjoying her active lifestyle, spending time with her
five great-grandkids and tending her yard, among other activities. That all came to a halt
when doctors discovered she had colon cancer and would require surgery.
The trouble began in May 2013 when Bonnie was scheduled for a colonoscopy to
find the source of her anemia.
“Because of my low heart rate, the procedure had to be postponed,” Bonnie says. Even
though a sonogram of her heart and an X-ray of the large intestine did not reveal any
health concerns, she began having severe stomach pain.
“Even housekeeping became too much of a chore for me,” she says.
In February, her primary care physician, Shehetaj Abdurrahim, MD, on the medical
staff at Methodist Charlton Medical Center, scheduled a CT scan, which showed
a spot on Bonnie’s colon. Bonnie was referred to Anil Tibrewal, MD, general
surgeon on the medical staff. A follow-up colonoscopy confirmed it was cancer.
Dr. Tibrewal suggested a minimally invasive procedure to remove the cancerous
section of her colon.
Great care at Methodist Charlton
Dr. Tibrewal is specially trained in operating with the robotic da Vinci® Surgical System,
which gives surgeons increased visibility, dexterity, and precision when operating.
“I thought it was exciting!” Bonnie says about having robot-assisted surgery. She
remembers watching a TV program on robotic surgery and thinking, “That’s the kind of
surgery I had.”
Bonnie says the team who cared for her at Methodist Charlton was great. She also
appreciated the large hospital room that easily accommodated a visit from her great-
grandchildren and her daughter-in-law’s overnight stay.
Fast healing
Everyone was surprised that Bonnie had so little pain after surgery, just some soreness
for a few days. Even better is that the robotic procedure removed all of the cancer,
eliminating the need for chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Bonnie was quickly back to playing in the yard with her great-grandkids — and
recruiting them to help with yard work. At age 82, she’s mowing the grass, pulling weeds,
and trimming bushes. “Anything it takes to enjoy the outdoors,” Bonnie says.
The latest evolution in surgical and
robotics technology, the da Vinci®
Surgical System, is now at Methodist
Charlton Medical Center. Robot-
assisted surgery allows the surgeon
to operate with enhanced vision,
precision, dexterity, and control.
For most patients, da Vinci
surgery offers numerous benefits
over traditional surgery, including:
w
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Smaller incisions
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Significantly less pain
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Fewer complications
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Less scarring
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A shorter hospital stay
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A faster return to normal
daily activities.
“Talk with your doctor about all
treatment options, as well as the
risks and benefits of each,” says
Anil Tibrewal, MD, general surgeon
on the medical staff at Methodist
Charlton. “If da Vinci surgery is
right for you, rest assured that it is
the skill of the surgeon that guides
the robot. Da Vinci interprets the
surgeon’s movements in real time
and enhances his or her visual
capabilities. The result is an overall
better experience for both the
surgeon and you.”
As seen
on
Methodist Charlton treated Bonnie Kaufman’s cancer
with the latest technology and knowledge
Methodist Charlton Medical Center
•
❁
Fall 2014
13
A
better
experience
Robot takes surgery
beyond the limits
of the human hand
© 2014 Intuitive Surgical
