With the most advanced surgical robot now being used at UF Health, surgeries such as the Whipple to treat diseases like pancreatic cancer will be even more precise.
Trudi O’Brien, 77, of Ormond Beach, was being treated for diverticulitis, or inflammation of the intestines, when imaging found a precancerous tumor obstructing her bile duct.
She was referred to UF Health for the most advanced specialty care, where she met surgical oncologist Ibrahim Nassour, M.D. Because of the tumor’s location, it could not be removed endoscopically.
“It was necessary to remove the tumor to prevent it from becoming cancer and to relieve the obstruction,” said Nassour, a member of the UF Health Cancer Center.
The tumor was located at the ampulla of Vater, which is where the common bile duct and pancreatic duct meet. An obstruction in this small reservoir can prevent the flow of bile and pancreatic juices into the small intestine, where these digestive juices are needed to help the body break down and absorb food.
O’Brien had the tumor removed in November via a robotic Whipple using the da Vinci robot and had a smooth recovery.
“Because this was done robotically, I just have five very small incisions on my abdomen, which never bothered me,” she said. “Dr. Nassour came in every single day, sometimes twice a day, while I was in the hospital.”
After being released from the hospital, O’Brien has made a smooth recovery, steadily reintroducing foods to her diet. “I didn’t expect to feel anywhere near this good,” she said in December.
This January, she was able to enjoy a 21-day cruise in the Caribbean. By March, she was spending the weekend with her grandsons, keeping her energy up as tossed around a basketball and took some swings at Top Golf.
O’Brien credits Nassour’s forward-thinking approach.
“If you look at his credentials, he’s spent his adult specialty life not just accepting what the conventional way to deal with a particular thing is — he’s a person who pushes the limit to find the best way, paying attention to what the technology is and using that to achieve the patient’s best outcome,” she said.
Nassour is continuing to stay at the forefront of leading-edge technology with the addition of the da Vinci 5 robot this spring. The robot will only enhance the high-quality care UF Health provides patients like Trudi, making procedures like the Whipple more precise.
“He’s a person who pushes the limit to find the best way, paying attention to what the technology is and using that to achieve the patient’s best outcome.” — Trudi O’Brien, patient
Leading-Edge Technology To Improve Patient Outcomes
UF Health implements Da Vinci 5 advanced surgical system
The Da Vinci 5 helps surgeons improve their view and precision when performing deep reconstruction in the body. It uses 3D vision, a magnified view, and robotic and computer assistance to streamline operations.
