NYU Lutheran Offers Robotic Surgery To Patients In Brooklyn

Elizabeth Elizalde -
NYU Lutheran’s Robotic Surgery Team: Left to Right: Dr. Lisamarie Colon-Ramirez, Merilyn Regollo, Dr. Diana Contreras, Natacha Cohen, Agnes Diamante and Dianna Norman with the robotic surgery system. (Courtesy: NYU Lutheran Medical Center)

NYU Lutheran Medical Center unveiled its new robotic surgical system called the da Vinci Xi aimed to prevent cancerous advancements for its patients in Sunset Park and all throughout Brooklyn, NYU Langone officials announced today.

“We’re proud to offer patients in Brooklyn the latest innovation in robotic surgery, a minimally invasive treatment option that has many benefits, including faster recovery times and less blood loss,” said Dr. Diana Contreras, chief of Women’s Services at NYU Lutheran. The former Lutheran Medical Center merged with NYU Langone last year to become NYU Lutheran Medical Center.

Before coming to Brooklyn, Dr. Contreras directed the robotic surgery team at North Shore-LIJ, now Northwell Health System, putting her on the list among the top robotic surgeons in the nation.

At NYU Lutheran, Dr. Contreras supervises surgeons and staff assisting with robotic surgeries. She ensures that her team is properly trained to conduct procedures using the da Vinci Xi, which is the latest and most advanced version of the surgical system.

Dr. Contreras notes other advantages of robotic surgeries include three-dimensional vision, smaller incisions, and less pain, without lengthy or overnight stays in the hospital.

“Patients do better and feel better,” said Dr. Contreras, who uses the robot to treat abnormal tissue disorders, repair pelvic prolapse, and removes benign and cancerous tumors of the uterus and other parts of the female reproductive system. “With robot-assisted surgery for cancer, faster wound-healing means patients can move on to the next therapy without having to wait to heal.”

In addition to gynecological surgery, doctors use the da Vinci Xi system to remove cancerous prostate, bladder, and kidney growths. “We also plan to offer robot-assisted colorectal, and abdominal procedures,” Contreras said. “Robotic-assisted surgery gives patients in Brooklyn direct access to the most advanced technology for minimally invasive surgery in their own neighborhood at NYU Lutheran.”