Health City Cayman Islands partners with OceanMed to perform first robotic surgery in the Cayman Islands

Adding to its long track record of surgical firsts in the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean, Health City Cayman Islands continues to establish itself as a leader in the innovative delivery of medical care with the introduction of robotic assisted laparoscopic surgeries using the da Vinci X surgical system.

The first robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery in the Cayman Islands took place on May 7th at the Health City Cayman Islands hospital in East End through a partnership between Health City and local healthcare provider, OceanMed. The partnership will see OceanMed obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. David Stone, utilize the da Vinci X robotic system to perform a wide variety of minimally invasive gynecologic surgeries, with the assistance of Health City specialists, gynecologist Dr. Pooja Monteiro and anesthesiologist Dr. Susan Paul.

“We recognize there needs to be a collaborative approach to healthcare delivery to provide the best clinical options for patients. Dr. Stone and OceanMed are the ideal partners to work with to expand the option of gynecological surgical options for our patients because of their track record of excellence,” said Health City Clinical Director, Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil.

Dr. Stone said he was delighted to expand the surgical offerings to patients using the robotic surgical system. “As a gynecologist, the robot can assist me in performing resection of endometriosis, myomectomies (uterine fibroid removal), pelvic organ prolapse repairs, and hysterectomies through incisions smaller than the width of a finger. Robotic assisted minimally invasive surgeries reduce the potential for bleeding, lower the risk of infection, decrease the risk of injury to other tissue organs, reduce postoperative pain and result in shorter recovery times when compared to open surgeries.”

While currently offering the ability to perform these exclusive styles of minimally invasive gynecological surgeries, Health City is planning to broaden the scope of robotic assisted surgery to bariatric and gastrointestinal surgeries, as well as for urologic procedures.

“It is important that we continue to find innovative ways to deliver excellent patient outcomes. That is why we are investing heavily in these modern technologies and systems, which have the potential to get patients back home to their loved ones faster. We anticipate being able to announce additional specialty areas that will benefit from use of da Vinci surgical system in the near future,” said Health City Cayman Islands Chief Business Officer, Mr. Shomari Scott.

Dr. Stone noted that while other approaches may be performed successfully, the da Vinci X provides another tool for the surgeon to use for completing the task. “After having performed, proctored, and assisted in hundreds of robotic assisted laparoscopic surgeries in the United States, I am truly grateful to have that option now here on island,” he said.

From cutting edge surgeries to innovative procedures, Health City has brought many “firsts” to the Caribbean and the Western Hemisphere. Among them: the first LVAD (artificial heart pump) in the Caribbean; First CCM device implanted in the Caribbean (a minimally invasive implantable device that treats patients experiencing symptoms of moderate to severe chronic heart failure); the first ECMO patient in the Caribbean and only ECMO Centre in the Caribbean (ECMO allows blood to be pumped from outside the patient’s body into an artificial lung that adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide); the first surgery to correct Pentalogy of Cantrell (heart outside the chest) in the Caribbean; and the first arthroscopic Latarjet surgery in the Caribbean, USA and Canada (using a unique technique to restore stability to the shoulder joint).

Health City is currently in expansion mode with construction underway on a new US$100 million super-specialty hospital in Camana Bay that will feature a specialized Cancer Care Centre with comprehensive and advanced oncology offerings, a neonatal intensive care unit, an emergency pavilion and critical care unit, and a multispecialty program that expands robotic surgery options. The new radiotherapy center aspect of the project is scheduled to open in late 2022 and the complete hospital a year later.