Mercy Thoracic Surgeon Marks Robotic Surgery Milestone

Mercy’s Dr. Dan Morrison, Chief of Surgery; Dr. Laki Rousou; and Dr. Asha Dhamija, Chief Medical Officer.

Although Dr. Rousou completed his 1000th da Vinci surgery during a paraesophageal hernia repair, the da Vinci Xi surgical system can be used across a spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures and enables multi-quadrant access for gynecology, urology, thoracic, cardiac, and general surgeries. The da Vinci Xi® surgical system is the most advanced surgical system available, providing patients with several benefits, including smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times.

“On its own, completing 1000 da Vinci thoracic surgeries is a tremendous achievement, and we are proud of Dr. Rousou for his accomplishment. But moreover, our patients overwhelmingly benefit from his robotic surgery expertise,” said Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H., President, Mercy Medical Center and Johnson Memorial Hospital. “Indeed, ‘practice makes perfect’ as clinical evidence draws a connection between surgeons who perform a high volume of robotic surgeries and the likelihood of their patients receiving a positive surgical outcome. Clearly, Dr. Rousou, and his skillful surgical performance, are important assets to the local community.”

With all da Vinci surgical systems, the surgeon is 100-percent in control of the robotic-assisted system, which translates their hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside the patient’s body. The Xi® system’s immersive 3DHD vision system provides surgeons a highly magnified view, virtually extending their eyes and hands into the patient. According to Dr. Roose, use of the da Vinci surgical system reflects Mercy’s commitment to the delivery high-quality patient care. “By taking advantage of the most advanced technology, coupled with the expertise of a full complement of clinical specialists, our patients receive top-notch care that rivals what they would expect to receive in a much larger metropolitan area,” he said.

With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Rousou is a board-certified thoracic surgeon who specializes in minimally invasive thoracic surgery techniques – from lung resections to hernia repairs to esophagectomies. Raised in the Pioneer Valley, he is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Massachusetts Medical Society. In 2018, Dr. Rousou was recognized as a LUNG FORCE Hero by the American Lung Association. He was feted by colleagues, supporters, friends, and family at a special celebration marking performance of his 1000th da Vinci thoracic surgery at Mercy Medical Center on May 7.