Merit Health Natchez Medical Staff Member Achieves Robotic-Assisted Surgery Milestone
11/3/2023
Over 2,000 Surgeries Performed Locally with Robotic-Assisted Technology
NATCHEZ, MS – November 3, 2023 — Local general surgeon Dr. Geoffrey Flattmann joined an impressive group of surgeons when he performed his 1,000th robotic-assisted surgery on Wednesday, November 1, at Merit Health Natchez. Over 2,000 patients have benefited from robotic-assisted surgeries performed at the hospital. Benefits recognized by these patients may include significantly less pain; less blood loss; less risk of infection; shorter hospital stay; quicker recovery and minimal scarring.
The use of robotic-assisted technology virtually extends the surgeon’s eyes and hands. Using the system, the surgeon operates while seated at a console viewing a 3-D image of the surgical area. The system mimics the surgeon’s hand movements in real time, in a smaller scale, within the operating site in the patient’s body. Benefits recognized by surgeons using the robotic-assisted technology over traditional surgical approaches include greater surgical precision, enhanced visualization, increased range of motion of the instruments and improved access to the surgical site.
“I was so blessed to achieve this milestone with my son Zach Flattmann, who is an incredible surgery tech who just found out he was accepted into medical school, said Dr. Flattmann. All of my thanks goes to the incredible OR crew at Merit Health Natchez. They are the most caring and most skilled healthcare providers you’ll ever find. I am also deeply indebted to the patients who entrust me with their surgical needs. It is a privilege and an honor to care for them.”
“We congratulate Dr. Flattmann on this amazing milestone achievement in his robotic-assisted surgery cases,” said Kevin Samrow, CEO of Merit Health Natchez. “The robotic surgery program at Merit Health Natchez is making a difference in people’s lives. With our skilled surgeons and exceptional team of anesthesia, surgery and post anesthesia care, people in our community can be assured this team is focused on patient safety, care and comfort.”
In addition to Dr. Flattmann, the following physicians perform procedures with the robotic surgery system at Merit Health Natchez: Dr. Christopher Martin, general surgeon; and obstetricians and gynecologists Dr. Frank Guedon and Dr. Melissa Jones. The most common procedures using the robotic-assisted system are hernia repairs, gallbladder, colon, single incision surgery and hysterectomies.
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