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Published on February 07, 2023

Tidelands Health expands robotic-assisted surgery program

Tidelands Health has expanded its in-demand robotic-assisted surgery program with the addition of a second surgery location in the region.

exterior view of Tidelands Georgetown Memorial HospitalFueled by the success of robotic-assisted surgery at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet, the health system has added a state-of-the-art robotic surgical system at Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital. The first robotic-assisted surgery in Georgetown was performed last week.

Most patients prefer advanced robotic-assisted surgery because of its many benefits, including a smaller incision, faster recovery time and less pain than traditional surgical approaches.

“Our team has seen remarkable outcomes in our patients who have opted for robotic-assisted surgeries at our first advanced surgical site in Murrells Inlet,” said Dr. Mark Witkowski, a general surgeon at Tidelands Health. “We’re proud to bring this leading technology to Tidelands Georgetown, making it even more convenient for patients to receive this advanced level of care close to home.”

Robotic-assisted surgery allows experienced, specially trained surgeons to precisely perform complex and delicate procedures through small incisions using miniaturized instruments. The surgeon controls these instruments from a nearby computer console using a high-definition 3D camera to see inside a patient’s body. The camera can magnify the operating field to provide much more detail for the surgeon than the human eye alone can detect.

“The robot doesn’t replace the expertise and skill of your surgeon, but it does give us amazing technology to perform procedures with smaller incisions and enhanced visuals,” Dr. Witkowski said. “The result? Our patients are able to get back to the activities they enjoy more quickly and with less pain than traditional surgical approaches.”

At Tidelands Health, robotic-assisted surgery is available for a variety of procedures, including gallbladder, hernia and colon surgeries, as well as urological and gynecological surgeries. Hysterectomies are now performed using the robotic-assisted technology, which make them less invasive with less recovery time than open hysterectomies.

The expansion of the robotic-assisted surgery program is part of Tidelands Health’s commitment to meet the health care needs of patients in the fast-growing region by using the latest technology and offering advanced care close to home. In recent years, Tidelands Health – the area’s largest health care provider -- has recruited dozens of specialists in fields ranging from endocrinology and neurosurgery to gastroenterology, secured leading technology and constructed state-of-the-art treatment facilities. In addition, Tidelands Health recently became the state’s first full affiliate of the MUSC Hollings Cancer Network.

Watch a demonstration of robotic-assisted surgery and learn more from Tidelands Health surgeons here.

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Tidelands Health, in collaboration with MUSC Health, is the region’s largest health care provider, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 70 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners work side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region – promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.