ROBOTIC SURGERY

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hopper52
hopper52 Member Posts: 108
in Esophageal Cancer #1
I was out at Moffitt Cancer Center this morning for my radiation treatment and to meet with my chemo oncologist. I met another EC patient there who had the same surgeon I am projected for....a Dr James Meredith. He performed a robotic MIE on this gentleman last Sep and it appears that he's doing great. Just curious if others have had this surgery. I did see one post to the affirmative a while back from one of my earlier posts. Wondering if there are any others.

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  • ArchTB
    ArchTB Member Posts: 150
    #2
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    Yes, Tom had it
    Tom had a robotically assisted MIE at MSKCC performed by Dr. Nabil Rizk on May 17, 2011. The surgery was long - almost 12 hours, but everything seemed to work out fine. Tom spent 9 days in the post-surgical recovery. They made him sit in a chair the day after the surgery and walk a few laps in the corridor in the evening. By day 5 he was almost running around the corridor, and only complaining about the naso-gastral tube. After the tube was removed it was all up the hill, he started clear liquid diet the day the tube was taken out, and progressed to just liquid diet next day.

    We have just came back from the follow-up visit with the surgeon. Tom's feeding port was removed as well as his drain (not sure how it's called, little bubble that was hanging on his right side). Tom has been okayed to eat normal food, and he is pretty excited about it.

    I cannot say that the good response is completely due to the robotic surgery. I really don't know what role it played. Tom is relatively young, 37 years old, with no other health conditions (but he did develop blood clots during chemo treatment and is now on blood thinners). The surgical team was excellent as well as the post-surgical care.

    Olya
  • hopper52
    hopper52 Member Posts: 108
    #3
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    ArchTB said:

    Yes, Tom had it
    Tom had a robotically assisted MIE at MSKCC performed by Dr. Nabil Rizk on May 17, 2011. The surgery was long - almost 12 hours, but everything seemed to work out fine. Tom spent 9 days in the post-surgical recovery. They made him sit in a chair the day after the surgery and walk a few laps in the corridor in the evening. By day 5 he was almost running around the corridor, and only complaining about the naso-gastral tube. After the tube was removed it was all up the hill, he started clear liquid diet the day the tube was taken out, and progressed to just liquid diet next day.

    We have just came back from the follow-up visit with the surgeon. Tom's feeding port was removed as well as his drain (not sure how it's called, little bubble that was hanging on his right side). Tom has been okayed to eat normal food, and he is pretty excited about it.

    I cannot say that the good response is completely due to the robotic surgery. I really don't know what role it played. Tom is relatively young, 37 years old, with no other health conditions (but he did develop blood clots during chemo treatment and is now on blood thinners). The surgical team was excellent as well as the post-surgical care.

    Olya

    THANKS
    Thanks Olya,

    Tom wasn't on blood thinners when he had the surgery was he? Reason I ask, I am on Plavix and aspirin which I am 99.999% sure I'll have to be off prior to surgery. They wouldn't even put a chemo port in while taking them.

    Mike
  • ArchTB
    ArchTB Member Posts: 150
    #4
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    hopper52 said:

    THANKS
    Thanks Olya,

    Tom wasn't on blood thinners when he had the surgery was he? Reason I ask, I am on Plavix and aspirin which I am 99.999% sure I'll have to be off prior to surgery. They wouldn't even put a chemo port in while taking them.

    Mike

    No thinners during the surgery
    Tom was asked to stop taking blood thinners 36 hours prior to the surgery. I think he started to receive small dosages on the second, maybe third day after the surgery, and moved back to his normal dose about 7-8 days after the surgery.

    But I have to say that blood thinners were never a problem for him when doing the chemo treatment. I know that aspirin is usually not recommended after gastric surgeries as it affects stomach tissue. No idea what the deal is with Plavix.

    I am sure doctors are well aware of what needs to be done in this case, just make sure to remind them about the medications you are taking.
  • Bobs1wife
    Bobs1wife Member Posts: 150
    #5
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    Robotic Surgery-Mayo, Rochester
    My husband had the robotic surgery on August 16, 2010 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. It went very well for him. The surgery itself is a few hours longer than the traditional surgery, but our surgeon told us it is well worth it when it comes to patient recovery, which is much faster. He was fortunate to not have any surgery complications except for some A-fib during and shortly after surgery. Mayo has an ICU, but if the patient is doing well they go right to their regular room, with high quality and attentive care. Surgery was on Monday, and he was released on Friday. We were told that there were many complications that could arise, which they constantly monitored for, but he really didn't experience any of those complications. I must say that if released that early I would recommend home health care to come it. I did it all myself not even thinking at the time to request help. He was on a blood thinner during chemo because of a blood clot in the leg, but it was discontinued before surgery. For us, MIE was a good decision.

    Tomorrow is surgery for rotator cuff tear as he fell on the ice, landed on his shoulder, on the same day he completed his post surgery chemo. Did post surgery chemo as 1 of 27 nodes had scattered cancer cells.

    When our daughter called her little girls after surgery to tell them that grandpa's surgery was done and he was doing well their next concern was to ask mom if she saw the robot. She said she " No, I wasn't in the surgery room, so no, I didn't see the robot." Their next question was "Well, didn't you see him walk in?" If it were all so simple!!

    Wishing you the best. Linda
  • BMGky
    BMGky Member Posts: 621
    #6
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    Bobs1wife said:

    Robotic Surgery-Mayo, Rochester
    My husband had the robotic surgery on August 16, 2010 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. It went very well for him. The surgery itself is a few hours longer than the traditional surgery, but our surgeon told us it is well worth it when it comes to patient recovery, which is much faster. He was fortunate to not have any surgery complications except for some A-fib during and shortly after surgery. Mayo has an ICU, but if the patient is doing well they go right to their regular room, with high quality and attentive care. Surgery was on Monday, and he was released on Friday. We were told that there were many complications that could arise, which they constantly monitored for, but he really didn't experience any of those complications. I must say that if released that early I would recommend home health care to come it. I did it all myself not even thinking at the time to request help. He was on a blood thinner during chemo because of a blood clot in the leg, but it was discontinued before surgery. For us, MIE was a good decision.

    Tomorrow is surgery for rotator cuff tear as he fell on the ice, landed on his shoulder, on the same day he completed his post surgery chemo. Did post surgery chemo as 1 of 27 nodes had scattered cancer cells.

    When our daughter called her little girls after surgery to tell them that grandpa's surgery was done and he was doing well their next concern was to ask mom if she saw the robot. She said she " No, I wasn't in the surgery room, so no, I didn't see the robot." Their next question was "Well, didn't you see him walk in?" If it were all so simple!!

    Wishing you the best. Linda

    Good luck on the rotator cuff repair
    My husband had to have a rotator cuff repair as soon as he was cleared by his EC surgeon. It went well. He had to go through the whole treatment and surgery with the tear. Be sure to follow the PT's rehabilitation exercises. It will help with any pain and in regaining movement and strength.
  • Bobs1wife
    Bobs1wife Member Posts: 150
    #7
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    BMGky said:

    Good luck on the rotator cuff repair
    My husband had to have a rotator cuff repair as soon as he was cleared by his EC surgeon. It went well. He had to go through the whole treatment and surgery with the tear. Be sure to follow the PT's rehabilitation exercises. It will help with any pain and in regaining movement and strength.

    BMGky
    Thanks for reply. I knew someone else had recently had the rotator cuff surgery and I just hadn't had enough time to research it further. So glad to hear your husband's went well. My husband is really dreading it as he was looking forward to the summer without chemo and 9 months out from surgery he was just ready to have a nice summer. I, myself, don't think it will be that bad, especially when comparing it to his esophagectomy, but know he is disappointed. We will be diligent with the rehab and hopefully get some use of that arm back. If it goes well I will only have to be his left arm for just a little longer! Good to hear from you! Linda

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