May 2007

Posted May 3, 2007

Robotic Surgery in the Future?

Kansas City, Missouri, May 1, 2007 � 1988 was a landmark year in surgery: It marked a paradigm shift in how surgery was performed. It was the beginning of minimally invasive surgery. Dr. George W. Holcomb III, Surgeon-in-Chief and Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Children�s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, and recently named by Ingram�s as one of the top ten doctors in Kansas City, will explain more about the paradigm shift and results of new surgery options in adults and children when he presents �Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery in Children� on Thursday, May 10, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Reading Room of the Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering & Technology.

From the beginning of surgery until 1988, operations were performed with often long incisions and with the surgeon viewing the open body cavity before him. In 1988, two surgeons performed gallbladder removal through several small incisions, and ushered in a new era in surgery.

Today, almost every operation has been performed with minimal invasion to the body. The advantages of this type of surgery result in reduced discomfort for the patient, leading to a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery period. Similar advantages have been shown in children.

The idea of robotic surgery began in the 1970s but did not become a viable surgical option until about ten years ago. Robotic surgery incorporates the same principles as minimally invasive surgery but the big difference is that the surgeon is controlling the robot during the surgery rather than the surgeon performing the procedure. Many of the same advantages found with laparoscopic or thorascopic surgeries are also found with the robotic procedure. In some cases, the robotic procedure has proven to be superior.%%%%

Learn more about robotic surgery, advantages and disadvantages of each type of surgery in both adults and children, and find out which type of surgery is preferred for various types of surgeries.

Mark your calendar for this important discussion! Be at the Linda Hall Library, 5109 Cherry Street, on Thursday, May 10, 2007, at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Reading Room for the third lecture of the 2007 Linda Hall Lecture Series.

The library is the world�s largest privately funded library of science, engineering and technology open to the public. Library hours are Monday, 9:00 a.m. � 8:30 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. � 5:00 p.m.; and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. � 4:00 p.m.

For more information about the library or the Linda Hall Lecture Series see the library's web page at www.lindahall.org or contact Kathy Alshouse at 816-926-8727.