When his doctor detected a cyst in his chest, Tom* received referrals to two specialists at separate hospitals. Eager to learn about his treatment options, he booked appointments with both.
First, Tom came to Michael Garron Hospital, where he met Dr. Negar Ahmadi, a Thoracic Surgeon.
“I was impressed with how she treated me. She took the time to explain things and that made me feel very comfortable,” says Tom. “I cancelled the appointment with the other specialist and never looked back.”
Tom brought his wife with him to his second meeting with Dr. Ahmadi. They discussed two options for removing the cyst: minimally invasive surgery through tiny keyhole incisions or an open surgery that would require a major incision in Tom’s chest.
“The minimally invasive route sounded better to me,” says Tom. “The incisions are incredibly small, making recovery a lot easier.”
There was still a chance the surgical team might have to open Tom’s chest cavity. The size of the cyst was just on the threshold for a minimally invasive procedure. So, Dr. Ahmadi helped prepare Tom for open surgery too, just in case.
Caring for patients and their families
“Dr. Ahmadi was confident the robotic-assisted approach would work, but she marked up my chest nonetheless,” says Tom. “By the time I was wheeled into the operating room, I was prepared for both types of procedures, knowing the team would do what was best.”
Using our new da Vinci surgical robot, Dr. Ahmadi made five small incisions and removed the cyst.
For this, she controlled the robot’s instruments from a nearby console. The robot translated her movements to bend and rotate tiny components, acting like a human hand, but with greater range of motion. To help guide the operation, Dr. Ahmadi used high-definition screens to see blood vessels, muscles and nerves in great detail.
Shortly afterwards, she called Tom’s wife to share that Tom was in recovery.
“My family had been sitting in the waiting room for hours. They were incredibly worried and anxious. It was good of her to call,” says Tom. “While it was a brief update, having that peace of mind was an important consolation for everyone.”
Tom stayed in our Intensive Care Unit for two days. Though he was able to walk on his own, he required close monitoring after the operation.
Donors change lives
“The robotic-assisted procedure was the right path for me. If it had been an open surgery, recovery would take much longer,” says Tom.
Now a month following his procedure, Tom and Dr. Ahmadi are pleased to see progress as the incisions continue to heal. Tom plans to return to work full-time in the coming weeks.
Michael Garron Hospital is one of just four hospitals in Toronto with a surgical robot, which supports minimally invasive procedures like this one. Donors like you made it possible, generously contributing toward a replacement when our previous model reached the end of its serviceable life.
To ensure all our patients have access to the best possible care, please give at mghf.ca/donate
* Name changed for privacy