LVH–Pocono Adds New da Vinci 5 Robotic Surgery Platform, Enhancing Monroe County’s Only Robotic Surgery Program

At Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), new technology brings better ways to care for patients. With the only robotic surgery program in Monroe County, Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Pocono has added a new da Vinci 5 surgical robot – the third da Vinci 5 for the health network. This addition is a statement about LVHN’s commitment to improved surgical outcomes and patient comfort.

“Continually upgrading our minimally invasive technology provides surgeons with new levels of precision and greater preservation of healthy tissue during procedures,” says Michael Pasquale, MD, Physician in Chief with Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence. “With the da Vinci 5 added to our fleet, we continue to build on high patient satisfaction, improved surgical outcomes and a quicker return to normal activity."

Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence utilizes 18 robotic surgical systems across 15 specialties network wide. Currently in its 17th year, the Institute’s robotic surgery program is growing, with nearly 45,000 robotic procedures performed since it began in 2008.

Now with three robots at LVH–Pocono, there are more opportunities for robotic-assisted general surgery as well as urogynecology, oncology and colorectal surgery. Because there are fewer incisions, less blood loss and less pain with robotic-assisted procedures, patients are back to being themselves faster.  

“While we have been performing robotic-assisted surgery for some time, the addition of the da Vinci 5 at LVH–Pocono is significant,” says colorectal surgeon Bogdan Protyniak, MD, who was the first surgeon to use the new robot. “The da Vinci 5 introduces Force Feedback technology, which enables surgeons to sense the force exerted on tissue during an operation. With up to 43 percent less force, this first-of-its-kind technology shows up as gentler surgery for patients.”

The da Vinci 5 has other innovative features that help streamline the workflow for surgeons and care teams and make procedures more efficient for patients. Built from nearly three decades of experience integrating robotics technology with advanced software, the da Vinci 5 delivers more precision, vision and control. This brings a distinct advantage to patients in Monroe and surrounding counties.

“LVHN is committed to investing in health care right here in the Poconos, so patients do not have to travel to receive world-class care,” says James Miller, CRNA, Regional President, Jefferson Health–Lehigh East Region and Senior Vice President, Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence. “Increasing the scale and efficiency of minimally invasive surgery is a commitment to quality and to our local community.”

From a broader perspective, the addition of the da Vinci 5 at LVH–Pocono continues to validate the position of LVHN as the region’s most advanced medical center. Last year, it was one of first hospitals and health systems in the world – and the only one in Pennsylvania – to install and use the da Vinci 5 at its LVH–Cedar Crest location. The network expanded its capabilities last summer with a second da Vinci 5 surgical system at LVH–Muhlenberg, Bethlehem.