Robotic surgeons on display at Cherry Creek Mall

DENVER — Right in the Grand Court and the Cherry Creek Mall, two Da Vinci Robots were sitting on display for anyone to see. The two robots allow doctors to perform a growing number of procedures with the most advanced type of minimally invasive operations.

“These machines combine the human touch of highly trained surgeons with the precision of today’s most advanced technologies,” said Dr. Jason Knudtson. “Patients can experience less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, less scarring, faster return to activity and greater sparing of nerves.”

The ‘test drives’ were for anyone who wanted to play on the machines that allow you to see inside the body with cameras, and to use two hand-controlled pinchers to move items around.

“This is really amazing,” said Kevin Miller, who just underwent chemo and removal of his prostate with the devices at a hospital in St. Louis. “I was up and around in less than a day.”

The devices are at five medical centers operated by HCA-Health One: North Suburban, Sky Ridge, Rose, Swedish and the Medical Center of Aurora. 

So far, the units have been used for gynecology, gynecologic cancers, prostate conditions, kidney disease, partial kidney removal, colorectal cancer and general surgery.

In some procedures doctors have removed a gallbladder through a one inch cut in the belly button. The sky is the limit for the new technology and right now, it is here in Mile High.