COEUR d’ALENE — Katie Chaffin peered into a device that resembled a virtual reality headset, squeezed a pair of hand controllers and across the room, a surgical instrument delicately grasped a tiny rubber ring.

With a tilt of Chaffin’s wrist, the instrument gently placed the ring atop a cone. 

Chaffin isn’t a surgeon. But during a Tuesday open house at Kootenai Health, she got a chance to use Kootenai Health’s newest surgical tool: the da Vinci 5 robot, created by biotech company Intuitive. The robot will go into use in May.

“It felt intuitive,” said Chaffin, a project manager at Kootenai Health. “It truly feels like you’re driving the Jetsons’ car.” 

Kootenai Health already has two da Vinci robots and holds the Robotic Surgery Center of Excellence Designation from the Surgical Review Corporation. But surgeons said da Vinci 5, the first of its kind in the region, is better than its predecessors. 

“It’s like a human wrist,” said Dr. Matt McLaughlin, a urologist with North Idaho Urology. “It’s almost like our hand is in there doing the surgery.” 

The da Vinci surgical system allows a surgeon to manipulate robotic arms and instruments from a seated position. A headset provides a high-definition, magnified, three-dimensional view of the target anatomy. At the same time, the surgeon’s hand, wrist, finger and even foot movements precisely control surgical instruments and the viewing field. 

“Once I sit down, I can control the whole robot,” McLaughlin said. 

The new model provides haptic feedback, allowing surgeons to feel the pressure they’re applying during surgery. 

“You actually feel the texture of the tissue,” McLaughlin said. 

Dr. Kenneth Helal, an OB-GYN with Kootenai Health, said he uses the system primarily to perform hysterectomies. The robot is a better option for some patients because it provides enhanced visibility, including areas not seen with the naked eye, and greater precision in movement.   

“If a patient has a history of abdominal surgeries, the robot can make hysterectomies less risky than other techniques,” he said. 

A 2023 study from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Texas found that robotic surgery was associated with shorter hospital stays and fewer complications among patients undergoing colectomy.  

McLaughlin said minimally invasive robotic surgery often results in reduced blood loss and pain, shorter hospitalization and faster recovery time for his patients. 

“People sometimes can’t believe they had surgery,” he said. 

Helal and McLaughlin both noted that standing for hourslong surgeries is hard on the body. But the da Vinci system allows surgeons to remain seated while they operate, reducing fatigue. 

McLaughlin said the new model has improved ergonomics over previous models. 

“It’s like getting a new La-Z-Boy,” he said with a laugh. 

Ryan Ciardo, a clinical representative for Intuitive, guided Kootenai Health employees and community members through demonstrations during a Tuesday open house at the hospital. 

“This is the future of surgery,” he said. 

Ciardo said he believes the community will benefit from the addition of the da Vinci 5. 

“This technology gives patients more access to minimally invasive surgery,” he said. “It’s a real testament to the leadership of Kootenai Health and their commitment to the patients and surgeons.” 

McLaughlin said local surgeons perform many minimally invasive robotic surgeries each year, and improved technology helps them to provide even better care. 

“You don’t need to go to big cities to get procedures done that you might have to without the robot,” he said. 

    Kootenai Health project manager Katie Chaffin uses the da Vinci 5 robot.
  

    Using the da Vinci 5 robot, users can manipulate hand controls to precisely control surgical tools from across the room.