Page 16 - Indulge September 2017

RoBotiC SURGERy 2.0:
ADVANCING THE TREATMENT FOR COLON CANCER
By Shannon Sigafoos
Your best option for beating colon
cancer — the second-leading
cause of cancer death in the United
States — is actually preventing it with
regular colonoscopies.
What happens, however, if you’ve
already been diagnosed? Lehigh Valley
patients looking for cutting-edge colon
cancer treatment no longer need to
travel to Philadelphia or New York;
state-of-the-art robotic-assisted surgery
is revolutionizing colon cancer treatment
here in the Lehigh Valley.
What that means for patients is
that the da Vinci robotic system offers
minimally-invasive colon surgery which
includes smaller incisions, less pain, less on to the colon, use sealers to cut and
pain medication, faster recovery, less
hernias and a quicker return to a normal
life. But it’s the differences between the
robot and conventional laparoscopy that
are so important.
The quality of cancer surgery has
a great impact on a patient’s overall
prognosis. David S. Bub, MD, of the
Colon and Rectal Institute of the
Lehigh Valley (CARI), has some of
the most extensive experience in the
area performing robotic colon surgery
for colon cancer, diverticulitis and
rectal prolapse. “With colon cancer it’s
very important to remove the cancer
specimen completely with all the
surrounding draining lymph nodes.
Robotic surgery is allowing us to do
this better.” Dr. Bub has found that
robotic technology has taken colon
and rectal surgery to the next level,
providing him with more precision,
control and visualization than traditional
laparoscopic techniques.
With this technology, a computer
system translates the surgeon’s
16 | indulge • September 2017
David S. Bub, MD
of the Colon and Rectal
Institute (CARI), has
experience in performing
robotic surgery.
Photo by Sarah Evans
movements into movements of the
robotic arms. Unlike routine laparoscopic in today’s health care environment. “I
surgery, the da Vinci robotic instruments repeatedly hear from patients who
have multiple degrees of rotation that
allow for precise movements within
a confined surgical space. With the
robotic arm placed inside the patient’s
abdomen, the surgeon can safely hold
cauterize tissues and place sutures
easily and safely. “With this technology
it is possible to reconnect the intestine of calling for an appointment, and the
within the abdomen allowing for smaller
extraction incisions,” says Bub. “In
many cases, I have had patients return
home only two days after colon surgery.
5 years ago that would have been
unheard of.”
“The da Vinci robotic system has
been available in the Lehigh Valley for
many years, however, it was primarily
used by urologists and gynecologists.
With the recent introduction of the
new Xi platform, devised specifically
for colon resection, the next frontier is patients. If you are diagnosed with colon
clearly colorectal surgery,” said Bub,
who conducted research at Memorial
Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and
practiced at Mount Sinai Hospital in
New York City. “When we do surgery
on the rectum, we’re working within a
limited space. The 3D magnification
and wristed instruments make it much
easier to obtain a clean resection
margin. I am confident this is the way
all colon and rectal surgery will be
performed in the future.”
As one of three specialists
practicing at CARI (previously Allentown
Colorectal) — where patients in the
Lehigh Valley have been served for over
40 years — Bub is not only breaking
barriers with da Vinci’s progressive
robotics, but along with his colleagues,
also recognizes the barriers that patients
face when seeking medical attention
are waiting months to see a medical
specialist. We feel that is simply
unacceptable. If you’ve been referred
for cancer surgery, you shouldn’t have
to wait. You’ll receive immediate,
personalized care here by a physician,”
says Bub. At CARI, patients are seen
by one of their doctors within 24 hours
practice has privileges at all hospital
systems in the Lehigh Valley, making
access to any hospital possible for their
patients. As we progress into a new
era of technological advancement that
pushes the boundaries of conventional
medicine, patients only need to
remind themselves of the advantages
of advanced science. Leading-edge
robotic assisted surgery is allowing
local surgeons, like Bub, to take their
skills and treatment to the next level
and provide better outcomes for their
and rectal cancer consider a second
opinion to understand all the latest
options available to you.