Cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Trung Ly Tran performed the operation using the hospital's Da Vinci Xi robotic system, a technology designed to assist surgeons with precision.
The procedure involved removing cancerous growths from the lungs through four small incisions.
"I'm very thankful that we can successfully do this type of complex surgery here in Visalia," Dr. Tran said.
During the surgery, the physician operates from a computerized console that controls robotic arms.
According to Dr. Tran, this type of procedure is most effective when lung cancer is detected early and has not spread.
"Lung cancer is a very aggressive type of cancer. If we can detect it early, we can treat it appropriately, prolong life and even cure," he said.
Dr. Tran noted that robotic surgery offers several potential benefits compared with traditional approaches, including less blood loss, minimal scarring, faster recovery time and shorter hospital stays.
Dr. Walter Gribben, a pulmonologist at Kaweah Health who works alongside Dr. Tran in the hospital's lung cancer program, said the program represents a big achievement for the region.
"Both Dr. Tran's robotic surgical program and my robotic bronchoscopy system are both the first of their kind to be offered in Tulare County. These are the first -- we both performed the first of these procedures here in this hospital," Gribben said.
Hospital officials say they plan to expand the use of robotic technology as part of a broader effort to improve early detection and treatment of lung cancer.
"Because the earlier that lung cancers are found, the less they've spread, the higher the chances of a surgical resection, and better survival and even potentially a cure," Gribben said.
The new program reflects Kaweah Health's efforts to bring advanced cancer care closer to patients in the Central Valley.
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