AUSTIN, Texas, April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, April 16, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center will become the first facility in the world to bring the benefits of the new da Vinci Xi Surgical System to patients. Within the first week, physicians will perform several different cancer procedures across three different specialties. The three specialties are colorectal, gynecologic and urologic oncology.

"The use of robotic-assisted surgeries continues to grow at a rapid pace, and we are at the forefront of that growth," Randy Fagin, M.D., chief administrative officer of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, said. "We are pleased to offer the world's first da Vinci Xi Surgical System as part of our continued efforts to offer significant surgical advancements to our patients."

The da Vinci Xi Surgical System, which was cleared by the FDA on April 1, is an expandable technology platform that is designed to accommodate and seamlessly integrate a range of current technologies in areas such as imaging, advanced instruments and anatomical access. The system has been optimized for multi-quadrant surgeries and can be used across a spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures. 

The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery at St. David's North Austin Medical Center will showcase the new da Vinci Xi Surgical System at its 3^rd Annual Surgical Technology Conference on Friday, April 18. Surgeons from across the nation will attend the one-day, intensive educational conference at the Institute's newly expanded conference and teaching center. The conference will feature live surgeries, exposure to the new Xi platform, as well as lectures from leading robotic surgeons, including Thomas N. Payne, M.D., medical director of the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery.

The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery was launched in March 2011.  It houses the world's largest collective intelligence on robotic surgery bringing together information on quality, performance and cost from nearly 100 hospitals across the United States and features an educational epicenter teaching best practices to hospital leadership, surgeons and surgical teams involved in the delivery of robotic-assisted da Vinci surgery. The Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery is an international treatment, training and research center that combines excellence in robotic-assisted surgery and outcomes with education and training.

St. David's North Austin Medical Center
St. David's North Austin Medical Center, located at 12221 North Mopac Expressway, is part of St. David's HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized in January 2012 as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. The 332-bed multi-specialty, acute care facility is dedicated to the highest level of women's health services, including maternity and newborn care with Level I, II and III nurseries at the adjacent St. David's Women's Center of Texas, as well as a 24-hour emergency department, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, heart and vascular center, neurology and neurosurgery, a kidney transplant program, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, among many others. In 2012 and 2013, the hospital earned a national distinction for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. St. David's North Austin Medical Center was named among the nation's 100 Top Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics (formerly Thomson Reuters) for three consecutive years, from 2012 to 2014. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

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SOURCE Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery