Dr. Richard J. Buckley Jr. completed his 500th surgery on Dec. 10, using the da Vinci Robot surgical system at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Courtesy of Kenmore Mercy Hospital

Kenmore Mercy Hospital passed a milestone on December 10, 2018, when Richard J. Buckley Jr., MD, FACS, completed his 500th surgery using the da Vinci Robot surgical system at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.  The hospital's first da Vinci robotic surgery took place on Feb. 24, 2016.
 "The da Vinci surgical system offers patients a minimally invasive approach as the incisions are smaller and recovery is faster," said Buckley, who specializes in general and laparoscopic surgery. "Unlike conventional open surgery, patients who undergo this surgical option experience less pain and scarring, less risk of infection and shorter hospital stays."
 The da Vinci Surgical System provides a 3-D high-definition image which extends the surgeon's eyes and hands virtually into the surgical field inside the patient. Sitting at a console, the surgeon's fingers grasp the master controls at the console with hands and wrists naturally positioned relative to his or her eyes. The system seamlessly translates the surgeon's hand and wrist movements into precise, real-time movements of the robotic surgical instruments inside the patient.
 "The robot mimics my movements while I'm sitting at the console," said Buckley. "Unlike standard laparoscopic surgery with straight rigid instruments, I have instruments with a pair of wristed two finger hands within the abdomen which transforms the laparoscopic procedure into an open procedure. Whatever operative movement I perform with my hands, the robot duplicates those movements within the patient."
Some of the benefits experienced by surgeons using the new technology over traditional approaches are greater surgical precision, increased range of motion of the instruments, improved agility, enhanced visualization and improved access to the surgical site.
 Buckley is one of 10 surgeons currently using the da Vinci Robot surgical system at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. Collectively, they have completed 1,000 surgeries, to date. This includes general surgery and colorectal procedures.
"For Kenmore Mercy Hospital to achieve 1,000 surgeries in less than two years after acquiring this robotic surgical system demonstrates the interest of our patients and medical staff in being able to access the latest technology," said Walt Ludwig, Kenmore Mercy Hospital's president and CEO. "We are excited to see this technology embraced so quickly and are proud to congratulate Dr. Buckley on achieving 500 da Vinci surgeries."