Palmyra Medical Center announced today the launch of the SPIDER™ Surgical System, a revolutionary single-port surgical device. This new technology was used at Palmyra Wednesday by Dr. John Bagnato, who became only the second surgeon in the world to use the SPIDER Surgical System to perform a LAP-BAND® surgery on a patient. Dr. Bagnato did the Lap-Band® after previously completing a gallbladder removal Monday, the second ever completed in the U.S. using this new system. The SPIDER Surgical System provided Dr. Bagnato the ability to complete both procedures in a laparoscopic manner.

The SPIDER Surgical System allows surgeons to use a single entry point like the belly button to conduct procedures such as gallbladder and appendix removal, as well as other traditional laparoscopic procedures, which in some cases had required up to five separate incisions. The SPIDER Surgical System allows the surgeon to use two flexible arms that operate in a flexible 360 degree range of motion to perform a precise laparoscopic procedure through one entry point. An additional feature of the SPIDER Surgical System is the ability to feed a fiber optic camera system through the same device. This eliminates the need for an additional incision while it provides an exact camera placement during surgery.

The SPIDER Surgical System is launching this month in the United States. Palmyra Medical Center is one of the first five hospitals in the world currently providing this new technology. Palmyra is using this new system for general and bariatric surgical procedures, including the removal of the gall bladder and appendix, as well as the surgical repair of the stomach for the treatment of acid reflux, and the LAP-BAND® procedure in a less invasive approach.

“Over the past 20 years, we as surgeons have seen the evolution of abdominal surgery go from a large six to eight inch incision, to the use of laparoscopic keyhole incisions which has greatly improved patient outcomes and recovery,” said Dr. Bagnato. “With this new precise SPIDER Surgical System the technology now exists to decrease the number of keyhole incisions, and soon attain a standard in patient care where a safe single keyhole incision procedure is a reality. This system provides a more cosmetically appealing outcome for the patient, as scarring is minimized to the unseen area of the belly button. Additionally, pain may be reduced and recovery time my be shortened with the improvement of the procedure becoming less invasive to the patient.”

“Palmyra Medical Center has a history of bringing innovative technology platforms to patients in southwest Georgia,” said Eric Riggle, Marketing Services Director at Palmyra Medical Center. “The successful launch of the new system will allow our existing surgeon base to provide another advanced option for patient care, and will allow Palmyra to grow through such innovation.

As a continued leader in patient care options, Palmyra Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in the United States to successfully introduce the SPIDER System this week.

“In addition to General and Bariatric procedures over time Palmyra is looking forward to providing additional new advanced approaches in surgery to patients using the SPIDER System,” added Riggle. “More options for patients mean a more complete solution in providing the best patient care”.