Blank Children's Hospital

• Pediatric Pulmonology 
• Pediatric Surgery
• Advanced Technology

Courtney

For several years, Courtney - a multi-talented athlete who plays basketball and runs track - had difficulty breathing while she exercised. Because her symptoms mimicked allergies and asthma, Courtney began getting allergy shots and using inhalers, but neither option provided any relief for her symptoms.

"I started experiencing circulation problems in my feet and hands, and we knew that wasn't asthma or allergy-related," Courtney remembers. "I had a chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan, because the doctors weren't sure what was causing all of these unusual problems,  and I was referred to specialists at Blank Children's Hospital."

Getting Answers

At Blank Children's Hospital, Courtney met with pediatric pulmonologist Ricardo Flores, MD, who told Courtney and her parents, Dallas and Pam, that Courtney had a plum-size tumor in her chest. Dr. Flores explained that Courtney would need surgery, and referred the Larson family to pediatric surgeon Michael Irish, MD.

"When we met with Dr. Irish, he told us about the different surgical options and explained that he had experience with one of the hospital's newest acquisitions, the da Vinci® Surgical System," Dallas says. "Dr. Irish thought he could remove the tumor through minimally invasive surgery. We thought this was a great solution, and his kind and knowledgeable manner made us feel very confident in his abilities."

High-Tech Hospital

On December 13, 2007, Courtney and her parents entered the recently renovated Surgery Department at Iowa Methodist Medical Center and Blank Children's Hospital. The renovations-which took three years to complete- included remodeling all of the operating rooms, the waiting areas and the cardiac catheterization lab, while providing more privacy for patients and increasing efficiency for hospital staff.

"With the renovations, we were able to create specific surgical waiting areas, preoperative and postoperative rooms for pediatric patients that enables us to separate kids from the adults surgical areas. In addition, we were able to renovate two operating rooms with advanced minimally invasive equipment to house our da Vinci® Surgical System," says Amy Bethel, RN, MPA, executive director of Surgical Services for Iowa Health - Des Moines. "As a result, we have improved patient access to services while also upgrading the technology we have available to physicians and patients."

Surgical Solutions

Typically, the type of tumor that Courtney had in her chest can be removed either with traditional, open surgery that includes a large incision or through a minimally invasive procedure that involves several tiny incisions. Because of the delicate nature of Courtney's operation and the advantages of high precision and enhanced vision, Dr. Irish opted to perform Courtney's minimally invasive surgery with the use of the hospital's da Vinci® Surgical System.

Blank Children's Hospital was the first children's hospital in the country to use this in pediatric general surgery and has become recognized as a world leader in pediatric robotic surgery.

"Prior to starting the surgery, we knew that Courtney had a tumor sitting on her heart, but we didn't know if it was malignant or benign," Dr. Irish says. "The mass had to come out, and the da Vinci® Surgical System provided us with the best way to perform the surgery." Dr. Irish was able to view Courtney's tumor in three dimensions and then use the robot's tiny instruments to remove the tumor from the area near Courtney's heart and lungs.

"The surgery to remove Courtney's tumor took about two hours," Dr. Irish says. "Once we had it out, the pathologists evaluated the tumor and told us it was benign. It should never come back."

Courtney and her parents were thrilled with the level of care she received during the four days she recovered at Blank Children's Hospital, and realize that Courtney was fortunate that she could have her surgery performed by talented surgeons in a state-of-the-art operating room so close to home.

"I don't think our community realizes the quality of medical care available to us locally through Blank Children's Hospital," Courtney says. "We always take the hospital for granted until we need it, but we're truly blessed to have this top-notch institution right here."