Just around a week after learning she had a cancerous mass in her colon, Janice Gerl was on the operating table having the tumor removed. Her story is at once commonplace and special.
It’s a commonplace tale because talented teams of surgeons and caregivers save lives every day. This surgery was special because that early September morning, Janice became the first person in Wisconsin to undergo surgery with the newly acquired da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system.
The procedure took place at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton also recently received its own da Vinci 5. ThedaCare acquired the new robots as part of its ongoing commitment to investing in innovation.
Smooth Recovery
Despite the quick lead-up to her surgery, Janice, a Clintonville resident, says she felt calm on the day of her procedure. Cynthia Geocaris, a General and Vascular Surgeon and Medical Director of the ThedaCare Surgical Robotics Program, performed the surgery.
“It was in God’s hands,” Janice says. “I was very happy with the doctor and the team.”
Now a few weeks out from her surgery, Janice says she has some aches and pains but continues to feel better each day. The procedure was successful in removing the cancerous mass, and she won’t need any further treatments.
Benefits of Robot Surgery
The kind of outcome Janice has experienced is one of the many benefits robotic surgery can offer.
“Because it’s minimally invasive and requires smaller incisions, robotic surgery often leads to shorter hospital stays and less pain and scarring,” Dr. Geocaris says. “Ultimately, this means people can return more quickly to their everyday life.”
Though Janice did have an inpatient stay following her surgery, many people undergoing robotic surgery go home the same day. For those who must take time off of work, robotic surgery can allow for a faster return to everyday life. What might be a four- to six-week recovery for open surgery may be only one to two weeks with robotic surgery.
Thanks to robotic surgery, Janice has been able to get back to her passions of painting and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
First of Many
Janice’s da Vinci 5 surgery was the first of what will become many. About a week after Janice’s surgery in Neenah, General Surgeon Peter Janu performed the first da Vinci 5 robotic surgery at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton.
Dr. Janu says as a surgeon, he appreciates comfort and ease of use that the da Vinci 5 offers. He’s also excited about new features.
“I’m looking forward to being able to review the data that gets collected from the procedures to help guide me to do surgeries even better in the future,” he says.
Expanded Offerings
The addition of the new robots is a win not just for patients but also up-and-coming surgeons. ThedaCare is a well-known and respected hub for teaching robotic surgery to surgeons from throughout the nation.
“We’re really excited to use all its capabilities for the patient and for teaching other surgeons,” Dr. Geocaris says.
It doesn’t stop there, though. ThedaCare offers robotic surgery in not just Appleton and Neenah, but also Berlin, Shawano, and most recently, Waupaca. This means people in rural communities don’t have to travel far from home and loved ones to receive state-of-the-art surgery.
“We have 24/7 access to the robot at all of these facilities now,” Dr. Geocaris says. “I couldn’t be more thrilled or proud of our system for what we’ve been able to do for the community.”
As for Janice, she celebrates the milestone she was a part of — and a happy return to her busy life.
“They blessed our lives with it, and they’re going to touch way more lives,” she says. “It’s a great thing and wonderful invention.”
Join us for an upcoming community open house to meet our team of surgeons and the da Vinci 5 robot. It takes place Thursday, Oct. 17, from 3 to 5 p.m. at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah
