TOLEDO, Ohio — On the latest episode of “Leading Edge,” host Jeff Smith welcomed viewers with an in-depth look at two forces shaping the Toledo region: medical innovation at ProMedica and the resilience of the city’s labor movement.
The program opened with a conversation between Smith and Dr. Stephen Stanek, a general surgeon with ProMedica, who highlighted the health system’s adoption of the da Vinci 5 surgical robot. According to Stanek, ProMedica is not only the first in the Midwest but also one of the first three worldwide to implement this advanced system across all its facilities.
Stanek described how the new robot enhances surgical capabilities, offering surgeons 3D vision, exceptional dexterity and a sense of touch that previous robotic systems lacked. These innovations allow for less invasive procedures, which Stanek said results in reduced pain, fewer hospital days and a lower risk of complications and opioid need.
“With the Da Vinci 5, you can actually feel how much tension you have on the organ,” a feature that was previously unavailable. Surgeries that once required large incisions and lengthy recoveries—including treatments for colon cancer, hernias, and various urological and gynecological conditions—can now often be performed using tiny instruments with the robot’s articulated arms. Stanek emphasized that, though robotic surgery is safer for many, there remain cases when traditional open surgery is the better choice,” Stanek said…