Fort Smith physician hits robotic milestone

A surgeon at Baptist Health-Fort Smith recently reached a milestone with her 1,000th robotic-assisted procedure.

Dr. JeanMarie Householder is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. She specializes in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgeries using the da Vinci surgical system. She has been with Baptist Health for 17 years. In addition to gynecological services, Householder also provides obstetric care.

The da Vinci surgical system allows surgeons to perform complex, delicate operations with increased precision and improved dexterity through four robotic arms. The system can be used in a wide range of gynecological and urological procedures.

During robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon is seated at a console a few feet away from the patient and views a 3D high-definition image of the surgical site while operating in real-time through tiny incisions using electromechanically-enhanced instruments. A team of surgical staff is positioned at the patient’s side to assist the physician, as needed.

Gynecological surgeries the system can be used for include:

• Hysterectomy for benign conditions
• Hysterectomy for cancer
• Pelvic organ prolapse surgery
• Myomectomy
• Endometriosis resection

Robotic-assisted procedures often result in less pain, faster recovery and a shorter hospital stay compared to other surgeries.