LANCASTER – Surgeons at Antelope Valley Hospital Thursday performed the area’s first transversus abdominus release, or TAR, surgery. This means patients suffering from complex hernias requiring surgery now have access to a novel and minimally-invasive procedure close to home.
Surgeons Emery Chen, M.D., and Rafael Lemus-Rangel, M.D., used the hospital’s da Vinci robotic surgical system to repair a complex hernia, which is a hole or weakness in the abdominal muscles that allows organs or tissues to jut through. Prior to the robot, complex hernias required reconstruction of the abdominal wall, a surgery that requires an extended recovery time. The TAR procedure also decreases the chance of developing future hernias.
“Antelope Valley Hospital has been very supportive of our efforts to expand robotic surgery in the Antelope Valley, especially in outpatient general surgery procedures,” stated Dr. Chen. “We have completed more than 800 robotic surgeries in our careers, and we are excited to be able to offer the previously unavailable TAR procedure and allow local residents to receive quality healthcare without leaving the region.”
The da Vinci surgical system gives patients access to this option for urologic; gynecologic; and ear, nose and throat procedures. In addition to the TAR operation, the hospital is also one of the few facilities in the Los Angeles area to have specialized oral equipment that attaches to the robot, allowing surgeons to perform transoral robotic surgery (TORS) on the head and neck.
Because robotic surgeries are minimally invasive, incisions are smaller and there is less blood loss resulting in fewer complications. Patients also benefit by having minimal scarring and a quicker return to daily activities.
[Information via news release from Antelope Valley Hospital.]
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Mr B says
I was the person who had the first TAR procedure at AVH . One month later so far so good no infection. Great nurses both day & night. Maybe just lucky.
justsayn says
yep….get your hernia fixed but walk out of the hospital with who knows what kind of viral or bacterial infection afterwards. noooooooooo not me…I would go anywhere but an a.v. hospital. justsayn
Kree says
But if you break your arm or leg you have to go to the valley to get it casted wtf? I dont trust these clowns at avh