We continue to monitor COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses in our communities. Read the most current information about prevention, testing and where to go if you're sick.

COVID-19 Information

Living Life With MS

"I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis when I was seventeen," Jenni Cusumano said. "As a 35-year-old woman who's lived with MS for over half my life, I don't remember what life was like before my diagnosis."

Read more

Show Me 100 for MS

Matthew Porter was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2014 at the age of 37 and has used his condition as a catalyst for change in his life. As a husband and father of three teenage children, he has a passion for living life to the fullest. “Having MS has made me more aware of my time, and I want to invest it in things that matter and make a difference.”

Read more

Heart Valve Surgery Gives New Lease on Life

Looking forward to resuming their active lifestyle in 2022, Connie and Arlin have two trips planned early in the year. Connie said that her heart surgery has given her a new lease on life. "Every time I'm at Missouri Baptist, I feel cared for, listened to and taken seriously. I always tell people that if you have heart problems, go to MoBap."

Read more

New Technology for Treating Cardiac Arrhythmias

The new technology at MoBap — robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) — introduces the benefits of robotic precision and safety to cardiac ablation, a common, minimally invasive procedure used to treat arrhythmias

Read more

Lung Cancer Screening Results in Early Detection

Michael, a 51-year-old business owner, was a one-pack-a-day cigarette smoker for 30 years who quit in 2017. As someone who enjoyed good health, Michael never worried about his lungs. However, chronic shoulder pain that he attributed to over-exercising and weightlifting began to bother him. On a whim, Michael Googled "causes of shoulder pain" and was surprised when lung cancer came up in the search result.

Read more
123578910Last

Related Content

Robotic-Assisted Surgery
James W
/ Categories: Surgical Services

Robotic-Assisted Surgery

A church pastor for more than 30 years, Cliff Woodman was accustomed to visiting hospitals. When he was diagnosed with colon cancer, however, the avid motorcyclist, husband and father of two wanted to get back to his flock – and his motorcycle – as soon as possible.

To minimize the normal pain, tenderness and general fatigue that occur after surgery, Cliff's surgeon, Lawrence Mendelow, MD, suggested robotic-assisted colon surgery.

"Laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive, resulting in shorter hospital stays and fewer complications," said Dr. Mendelow, a colon and rectal surgeon at Missouri Baptist Medical Center. "Robotic-assisted surgery is an extension of the laparoscopic procedure but with significant advantages."

In robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon performs the operation by controlling the movements of the robot's "hands" to manipulate the surgical instruments and the high definition camera. The robot performs the surgeon's actions more precisely than human hands or traditional laparoscopic surgery instruments because the robot has greater dexterity and range of motion. The robotic system also provides greater visibility for the surgeon.

"The system lets me put my camera right where it needs to be. I can see the operating field like I'm holding it in my hands," Dr. Mendelow said. "It's much more precise."

Cliff Woodman
Robotic-assisted surgery helped Cliff Woodman get back to cycling and the pulpit faster

Dr. Mendelow's patients, similar to Cliff, who undergo robotic-assisted surgery have an average hospital stay of less than three days. This is less than the national average of four days for laparoscopic surgery or seven days for traditional open surgery. Robotic-assisted surgeries also result in less pain, less blood loss, and a faster return to normal activities.

However, robotic-assisted surgeries are not appropriate for every patient or every surgery. For example, patients with significant scar tissue would not be good candidates. It is also not appropriate for emergency surgeries. While not every case is suitable for robotic-assisted surgery, for those that are, like Cliff's colon cancer, Dr. Mendelow believes it is the best option.

"The less invasive operation made recovery so much better. I was up walking in less than a day and out of the hospital in two days," Cliff said. "I only missed preaching one Sunday and I was back on my motorcycle in two weeks."

Print
8398 Rate this article:
No rating

Find a Doctor or Make an Appointment

Our new search tool will help you choose a doctor or health care provider that is best for you or your family.

Search Now