Single-Site Cholecystectomy Performed for First Time at Presence Saint Francis Hospital

A single-site cholecystectomy was performed for the first time at Presence Saint Francis Hospital this spring by Michael Prendergast, M.D., using new technology now available at the hospital. Dr. Prendergast removed the patient’s gallbladder through a small incision in the belly button, making the surgical site virtually scarless. 

Laparoscopic surgery, the more common surgery for gallbladder removal, requires three small incisions around the right ribcage and can leave obvious scarring. “The patient preferred the single site procedure because she's a young woman who didn’t want a visible scar on her abdomen,” said Dr. Prendergast. “Single-site cholecystectomy (the medical term for gall bladder removal) offers patients rapid recovery time, significantly less pain, less blood loss and quicker returns to normal daily activities. The lack of a visible scar is ideal and of interest to almost any potential patient.”

The technology, known as the daVinci Si, at Presence Saint Francis Hospital offers surgeons an alternative to traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the approximately one million Americans who have their gallbladder removed each year as treatment for gallstones and other medical conditions. The surgical system provides the physician with high-definition 3D vision inside the patient, and its extended surgical arms can reach areas that normally would not be easily accessible. Several different tools can be attached to the surgical arm to perform precise functions in the surgical suite.

“We are pleased to offer advanced technologies such as the da Vinci Si, and the latest surgical options to our community because of the significant value it offers our surgical staff and the patients we serve,” said Roberta Luskin-Hawk, M.D., president and CEO of Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston and Presence Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago. “These technological advancements provide our surgeons with unparalleled precision, dexterity and control that enable a minimally invasive approach for many complex surgical procedures.”

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About Presence Saint Francis Hospital

Presence Saint Francis Hospital is a nationally recognized, full-service 271-bed hospital with a Level I Trauma Center and is listed as one of Chicago’s top hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. As home to the first Chest Pain Center on Chicago’s north shore and a Primary Stroke Center certified by the Joint Commission, Presence Saint Francis Hospital has a rich history of providing top quality care and leading edge technologies in collaboration with its 430-physician medical staff. Presence Saint Francis Hospital has been designated a Magnet Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, placing it in the top seven percent of U.S. hospitals for nursing excellence. More information is available at http://www.presencehealth.org/stfrancis.

About Presence Health

Presence Health is the largest Catholic health system based in Illinois, created in November, 2011 through the merger of Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care. With more than 150 sites of care, including 12 hospitals, Presence Health has 22,000 employees and 4,000 medical professionals. More information is available at http://www.presencehealth.org.