Hospitals reach milestone 10,000th robotics surgical case

HCA Virginia’s Henrico, Parham and Retreat Doctors’ Hospitals achieved a milestone recently by completing their 10,000th robotic surgical case. Cecelia Boardman, a gynecologic oncologist at Henrico Doctors’ Hospital, performed the case, which was a right ovarian cystectomy.

In 2000, the first robotic surgery system was approved by the FDA for general laparoscopic surgery and made commercially available in the United States. The FDA approved the robotic surgical system for use at five U.S. hospitals, one of which included Henrico Doctors’ Hospital.

In 2002, Henrico Doctors’ Hospital was the site of the first minimally invasive, single-site robotic surgery in the Mid-Atlantic region. Performed by Dr. William Kelley Jr., the laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder) procedure, allowed surgeons to make only one cut with more stability and greater dexterity for the first time in enterprise history.

With a total of seven robots and more than 70 trained robotic surgeons, Henrico, Parham and Retreat Doctors’ Hospitals now use advanced robotic-assisted laparoscopic and minimally invasive technology to treat a wide range of conditions in specialty areas from general surgery, lung procedures, and urology treatments to gynecology, gastrointestinal procedures, and joint replacement surgeries.

“I proudly commend the staff, nurses, and physicians who have worked tirelessly over the years to ensure the highest level of care and most positive outcomes for our patients,” said Ryan Jensen, chief executive officer of Henrico Doctors’ Hospitals. “This 10,000th robotics procedure marks only the beginning of the next era of surgical innovation and patient care for our community, and I’m confident that we will strive to achieve continued success for those we serve.”