Leading the way: Watauga Medical Center is first in North Carolina to implement the da Vinci 5 surgical robot

On July 16, Watauga Medical Center became the first in North Carolina to introduce the da Vinci 5 Surgical Robot, a groundbreaking advancement in surgical technology. This state-of-the-art robot enables surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures with greater precision, leading to faster recovery times, improved patient outcomes, and enhanced surgical experiences. Key benefits include sharper surgical imagery, more accurate movements, and dynamic training feedback, all powered by 10,000 times more computing power than previous models. Watauga Medical Center’s acquisition of the da Vinci 5 highlights our commitment to cutting-edge patient care and innovation in healthcare.

The following is a story of one of our first patients to undergo surgery with the da Vinci 5 robot, performed by Dr. Paul Dagher, and how this innovative technology made a difference in her care.

“As a 26-year-old Physician Assistant (PA) student at Gardner-Webb University, I was in the middle of my emergency room rotation at Wilkes Hospital when I developed an impacted gallstone in my common bile duct. I needed an Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure to remove the stone. After a few days in an outside hospital, I was discharged home.

My mother-in-law is one of the perioperative charge nurses at Watauga Medical Center, and when it came time to decide where to have my gallbladder surgery, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. Although I had the option to choose another hospital, I chose Watauga Medical Center because I wanted Dr. Dagher to perform my surgery.

Dr. Dagher informed me that I would be one of his first patients to undergo surgery using the new da Vinci 5 robot. What made this experience exceptional was that, because the surgery was performed robotically, Dr. Dagher was able to place the incisions along my bikini line. This wouldn’t have been possible with traditional laparoscopic surgery, and it meant I could have the procedure without any visible scars.

At my two-week follow-up, I was feeling great, and my scars were barely visible at all. I am so grateful for the advanced care I received at Watauga Medical Center and the skill of Dr. Dagher and his team.”