University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) has upgraded its surgical technology by adding the Da Vinci 5 robotic system, expanding minimally invasive options, and enhancing surgical training, according to a KVIA report.
The Da Vinci 5 is a surgeon-controlled robotic platform designed to enable precision during procedures and improve operating room workflow. UMC Surgical Medical Director Dr. Alonso Andrade said there is a growing need for minimally invasive surgical options.
New Technology Designed to Improve Precision
One of the key features of the Da Vinci 5 is haptic feedback, which allows surgeons to feel the pressure applied to tissue. This feature may help reduce tissue injury during procedures.
The system also integrates multiple tools and equipment into a single platform, helping improve workflow and prepare surgeries more efficiently.
“Having the ability to at least think about those things … what are the possibilities?” Andrade told KVIA. “So, having this new technology just opens your mind to new possibilities and asking research questions. It’s an exciting time.”
Supporting Surgical Training and Education
KVIA also reported that the Da Vinci 5 includes a dual teaching console, allowing surgeons to work alongside residents and medical students during procedures. Andrade, who is also an associate professor at Texas Tech Health El Paso, said the technology allows for real-time teaching.
Surgeons can also observe procedures remotely through a mobile application and provide guidance.
“If I want the resident to do a certain task like, ‘Hey, I need you to throw a suture here. I need you to practice this,’ they can do it and I can be watching them,” Andrade told KVIA. “It’s really a game changer for us.”
Additionally, the system can record procedures and use artificial intelligence to analyze surgical performance, allowing surgeons and trainees to review and discuss cases afterward.
Patients are informed about the use of robotic-assisted technology and must provide consent before procedures are performed, according to KVIA.
The addition of the Da Vinci 5 represents another step in expanding advanced surgical care at University Medical Center of El Paso while supporting innovation and medical education in the region.
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