Hackensack University Medical Center 1st in NJ to use da Vinci 5 robotic system

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Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center recently announced it was selected as one of only 14 centers in the world – and the only in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut – to acquire the Intuitive Surgical da Vinci 5 multiport surgical system.  

In an April 9 statement, the health care provider described the da Vinci 5 as the most advanced surgical technology available. An HUMC team performed its first procedures using the new system on four patients April 1. 

Dr. Michael Stifelman is chair of urology and director of robotic surgery at HUMC and professor and founding chair of urology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. He said the system “will allow us to take robotic surgery to the next level.” 

“We have been early adopters of the latest robotic technology for many years, and our goal has always been to offer our patients the highest quality surgical care that exceeds national standards,” Stifelman added. “The da Vinci 5 is one more tool that we can use to deliver those results.” 

The da Vinci 5 system includes 150 enhancements from da Vinci Xi, such as: 

• Enhanced precision and control; 
• Next-generation 3D display and image processing; 
• First-of-its-kind force-sensing technology, enabling the system to measure, and surgeons to feel, subtle forces exerted on tissue during surgery; 
• Features designed to help increase surgeon autonomy and streamline the surgical team’s workflow; 
• More than 10,000 times the computing power of da Vinci Xi as well as advanced data capabilities. 

HUMC said patient benefits of robotic surgery include decreased blood loss and reduced need for transfusions; less risk of infection; less pain after surgery; smaller external and internal scars; shorter hospital stays; and faster recovery. 

Gynecology, urology, thoracic, general, bariatrics and colorectal surgeries will use the da Vinci 5 system. It is housed in the Helena Theurer Pavilion. That $714 million expansion opened at HUMC in January 2023. 

HUMC performed its first robotic-assisted surgery more than 20 years ago, according to the health care provider. In 2023, it performed its 25,000th robotic surgery. That put the facility in the top 1% of hospitals in the country to achieve the milestone. 

“The da Vinci 5 represents the next chapter in our robotic surgery journey, and we are proud to be among the first in the world to offer this game-changing robotic surgery option to our patients,” said Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert Garrett.

Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck also added new robotic surgery technology to its offerings. According to an April 9 announcement, it is now one of a select few hospitals in the Garden State to offer robotic spinal fusion surgery by combining robotics with 3D intraoperative imaging.