SACRAMENTO - Mercy General Hospital performs the most heart bypass surgeries in California. The success of those surgeries put Mercy in the top 5% of California hospitals, according to latest report from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD).
OSHPD also reports Mercy's mortality rate of cardiac bypass surgery of 0.97% was considerably lower than the statewide average of 2.35%.
Mercy attributes the success of their procedures a self-proclaimed new era in cardiovascular care. "There's a committed, dedicated team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons who have committed themselves to this program for many years," said Dr. Michael Chang, the Medical Director of Cardiac Services at Mercy.
Heart patients in the region have access to state-of-the-art Hybrid Surgical/Catheter Lab Suites. Doctors perform mostly catheter procedures in the hybrid lab, but having the option to perform heart bypass surgery in the same room is crucial. According to doctors, precise imaging in a sterile surgical environment, supports minimally invasive and complex surgical procedures in one location.
Some of the latest technology at Mercy includes the use of the Da Vinci Surgical Robotic System to perform valve repairs. News10 was there as Mercy Doctors Allen Morris and Frank Slachman used the Da Vinci System during surgery earlier this summer.
"Historically, we used to do this through larger incisions," revealed Slachman. "The greatest thing the robot has been able to provide us, is to do this literally through pores, tiny small pore incisions."
Morris added, "The robot allows us to manipulate the arms in the body itself. The robotic approach has enabled us to do it more efficiently." All of this contributes to safer conditions and a vast reduction in recovery time.
For catheter procedures, Mercy uses the Hansen Robotic Assisted EP Navigation System which provides doctors with enhanced accuracy and control.
Mercy doctors say they can now offer patients options that were previously available out of the area or even out of the state.
News10/KXTV
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