Christian Hospital Makes History by Using da Vinci Robot for Lung Cancer Surgery

Christian Hospital was the site of health care history today. Using the da Vinci Surgical Suite, Washington University cardiothoracic surgeons Sunil Prasad, MD; Nabil Munfakh, MD; and Travis Crabtree, MD, performed the St. Louis region’s first full-lung lobectomy to effectively treat lung cancer.

The amazing da Vinci technology features a high-definition 3-D camera to provide surgeons with greater precision and control, and access to hard-to-reach, hard-to-see internal areas of the body. This allows the surgeons to perform extremely complex operations, such as the full-lung lobectomy, through a few small incisions.

For the lobectomy patient, this means:

• No large chest incision or rib spreading
• Reduced cancer reoccurrence or mortality in advanced disease
• Reduced pain
• Less blood loss
• Fewer complications
• Faster return to pulmonary function
• Shorter length of stay
• Faster recovery

Patients at Christian Hospital can expect the da Vinci system to be used in:

• Cardiothoracic procedures
• Urologic procedures
• Gynecologic procedures
• Colorectal procedures
• General surgery procedures

Learn more about the da Vinci Surgical Suite >