Medical Center Only Hospital in Georgia Performing Robotic Surgery on Children

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Dr. Josh Glenn with the Children’s Hospital at The Medical Center of Central Georgia does something that no one else in the state is doing. He’s using a robot to perform surgeries on children.

“The beauty of it is you’re not really learning a new operation, you’re doing the same operation as you were doing before you’re just using new technology,” said Glenn.

It’s called the Pediatric daVinci Robotic Surgery System. While the patient is on the operating table, Dr. Glenn sits at a console several feet away.

“I’m not standing over a patient, ergonomically it’s much easier for the surgeon,” Glenn said.

Using hand and foot controls and a viewfinder, he is able to see a 3-D image that puts him right next to the area of operation. The system allows for better visualization, more precision, and more control during an operation. 12-year-old Cori Norton and her family all said they are thankful for these benefits.

Cori said, “I had a balloon in my stomach and they had to remove it.”

Her dad Blake Norton added, “It was at the top of her stomach where her esophagus goes in…it’s very rare.”

It was so rare, that no one in their hometown of Cairo had seen it before. That’s when they were referred to the Children’s Hospital. Three days after a 6 hour surgery, Cori wasted no time getting up and walking around.

“I feel better than I did after surgery, it doesn’t hurt a lot,” said Cori.

The benefits are less pain, fewer stitches, and a faster recovery.

Dr. Glenn said, “By using the robot we were able to do it minimally and through small incisions, not having to do a big open operation on a young lady who wants to wear a bathing suit, go to the beach and not have a bunch of scars.”

It’s technology put in the hands of an expert, to best care for their patient.

Blake said, “As long as they can fix my daughter, I’m good with it.”

According to Dr. Glenn, the technology applies to the smallest of babies to adult size teens. The Medical Center of Central Georgia is the only institute in the state performing these surgeries.