SALT LAKE CITY ( ABC4 ) — A new type of surgical robot has come to the Mountain West, bringing with it faster recovery times, reduced scarring, and overall better patient outcomes.
The University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute introduced the first — and only — single-port robot in the Mountain West for head and neck surgical oncology patients, HCI said in a press release.
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The groundbreaking technology reportedly allows for greater precision and less invasive procedures.
While the surgeons at HCI have been conducting robotic cancer surgery for more than a decade, the single-port robot will be able to significantly improve patients’ recovery time and minimize side effects, HCI said.
Reyes Salazar, 34, of Salt Lake City, will be the first person to have this procedure in the area. The new robot will remove a non-cancerous cyst from the back of his throat.
When Salazar was eight years old, doctors discovered a cyst near his airway. Despite successful laser removal, the cyst came back.