Media Contact: Michael Schwartzberg, GBMC Media Relations Manager

(O): 443-849-2126/Cell: 410-258-3465eMarch 2:]

GBMC Physicians Perform Maryland’s First Robotic Bladder Cancer Surgery 

BALTIMORE, Md. –  June 11, 2007 –   A team of GBMC urologists recently performed Maryland’s first robotic surgery for bladder cancer on a Kent County man who was able to walk around his hospital room the day after the procedure.  Using the da Vinci^® Surgical System, the physicians from Chesapeake Urology Associates laprascopically removed the man’s bladder, prostate and a large number of lymph nodes.  This is an alternative to traditional open surgery which requires an extensive incision and results in a long recovery time, both in the hospital and at home.

This groundbreaking procedure reinforces GBMC’s position as a leader in surgical procedures in Maryland.  GBMC performs more total surgical and operative procedures than any other community hospital in Maryland.

“I was up and walking the very next day and have been walking every day since without a lot of discomfort,” said Jim Enfield, 57, of Galena, Md., who hopes to return in early July to his job driving a truck for Wal Mart.  “The level of pain was much less with the robotic procedure,” said Enfield, who previously had traditional shoulder and knee surgeries.  Enfield’s father-in-law also had a bladder cancer surgery about six years ago, “and it was a while until he was back on his feet.”

Upon learning he had a small polyp in his bladder, Enfield consulted with David Goldstein, M.D., who had performed the earlier surgery on Enfield’s father-in-law.  “We have a long family history with Dr. Goldstein, and when he suggested robotic surgery, I didn’t need a second opinion,” Enfield said. 

”As a relatively young and healthy patient with bladder muscle invasive cancer and no prior abdominal surgery, he was an excellent candidate for robotic surgery,” said Dr. Goldstein. “As a motivated and working gentleman, I felt that he would benefit from the shorter convalescence offered with the robotic procedure.”

Benefits of doing this surgery using robotic technology typically include reduced blood loss, less post-operative pain, shorter recovery time, and less scarring, while maintaining the goals of a cancer operation

“The open radical cystectomy is considered one of the most invasive surgeries urologists perform, and it is also one of the more challenging,” said Dr. Lowentritt, the lead surgeon in Enfield’s case, who was assisted by Dr. Goldstein and Sean VanZijl, M.D. “Future applications of robotic surgery are limitless and we have only begun to apply this remarkable technology for the benefit of patients.”

Added Dr. Goldstein, “Over the past decade we have seen tremendous strides toward minimally invasive procedures across all surgical specialties.  I expect we’ll see this to continue as technology continues to improve.”

Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci^® Surgical System allows surgeons to interactively control movements via an interactive console in the operating room.  It acts as an extension of the physician’s hands, and can turn in ways the doctor’s hands cannot. Benefits for the surgeon include improved dexterity, increased range of motion and enhanced visualization. There were almost 50,000 robotic surgeries done worldwide in 2006; 229 were robotic cystectomies. So far in 2007, there have been approximately 150 robotic cystectomies performed, with Dr. Lowentritt’s procedure the first such case in Maryland. 

In June 2006, David von Rueden, M.D., medical director of GBMC’s Comprehensive Obesity Management Program, performed the first robotic gastric bypass surgery using the da Vinci^® Surgical System in Maryland, Delaware or the District of Columbia; and in winter 2005 GBMC’s Eugene Katz, M.D became the first physician to perform robot-assisted gynecologic surgery at a community hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region. 

About GBMC

GBMC includes Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC), Central Maryland’s leading community hospital; Hospice of Baltimore, which provides comfort and care to patients with life-limiting illnesses; and the GBMC Foundation, which supports the GBMC mission by managing fundraising efforts.  The 292-bed Medical Center, located on a beautiful suburban campus, serves nearly 22,000 inpatients annually and provides approximately 60,000 emergency room visits. For more information, go to www.gbmc.org

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