UNT Health physician using new surgical robot

The concept of a robot performing surgery is no longer science fiction… it’s a reality. For some Tarrant County women requiring a hysterectomy, myomectomy or removal of uterine fibroids, much of the pain and complexity of surgery can now be minimized, thanks to a UNT Health gynecologist and the latest in surgical technology.

The JPS Health Network has purchased two daVinci S surgical robots and UNT Health physician Salvatore LoCoco, MD, is using this technology to care for his patients. The four-armed robots are the first in Fort Worth and are being used at JPS Hospital and the JPS Health Network Diagnostic & Surgery Hospital of Arlington.

The surgical robots allow surgeons to work in confined areas of the human body. The robotic arms have mechanical wrists that allow 360-degree rotation, and the physician operates the robot from a console located remotely from the operating table. Surgery with incisions just large enough for insertion of the robotic arms allow for less blood loss and shorter patient stays in most cases. Other medical specialties, such as urology, have been using the da Vinci system for prostatectomies.