FHCI Researchers Win Outstanding Clinical Poster Award at SGO

A clinical research poster entitled “Robotically Assisted Laparoscopic Hysterectomy versus Total Abdominal Hysterectomy and Lymphadenectomy for Endometrial Cancer” presented by the researchers of Gynecologic Oncology Center, Florida Hospital Cancer Institute (FHCI), Orlando, have won the “Best Clinical Poster” award of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) at the 39th Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, in Tampa, FL, March 9-12, 2008.  The authors of the winning poster are Sara A. DeNardis, DO, Robert W. Holloway, MD, Glenn E. Bigsby IV, DO, Dirk P. Pikaart, DO, Sarfraz Ahmad, PhD, Neil J. Finkler, MD. [Reference: DeNardis SA, et al. Gynecol. Oncol. 2008; 108 (3): Suppl.1, A247].

The da VinciÒ Robotics System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) for use in gynecology was approved by the FDA in April, 2006. The Gynecologic Oncology Program at Florida Hospital performed procedures soon thereafter in June, using a standard system originally purchased for the Urologic Program that has performed over 500 radical prostatectomy cases. An improved da Vinci-SÒ System was added to the robotics program in October, 2006 with enhanced features important for gynecologic oncology procedures. Since that time, over 300 procedures have been performed including hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer, radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer, and hysterectomy with staging lymphadenectomy and omentectomy for early ovarian cancer. Florida Hospital converted 20% of open gynecologic oncology cases to minimally invasive procedures since the purchase of the new system, and expects growth to about 35% for 2008. Limitations for the procedures include morbid obesity, poor cardiovascular health, and advanced metastatic disease. There have been no wound infections and no transfusions in our first 300 cases, and a conversion to open laparotomy rate of only 2%. The winning poster being our review of only first 56 endometrial cancer cases.

In December 2007, Florida Hospital announced the creation of the Global Robotics Institute at the Nicholson Center for Surgical Advancement (NCSA), Celebration Health. All members of the Gynecologic Oncology Program participate in the education of surgeons from around the world who visit the NCSA for training in robotic surgery. We are the largest volume da VinciÒ program in the State of Florida and one of the largest in the nation.