Decades of heartburn inspired Pamela Conn to travel over 100 miles to have her hiatal hernia repaired at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, which celebrated a major milestone in the process.
Pamela cast a wide net, looking into 33 specialists before going with her gut and choosing a hospital three counties away from her home in rural Olney.
“I did my own research, and I did a lot of it,” says Pamela, a 56-year-old who’s pursuing a career in healthcare herself. “I drove two hours to come to Methodist Mansfield.”
The procedure marked the 10,000th robotic surgery at Methodist Mansfield, 40% of them performed by the surgeon Pamela chose.
“Over a decade ago, I started doing robotic surgery,” says Jeremy Parcells, MD, vice chair of surgery at Methodist Mansfield. “It’s special getting to be the one who actually hits that 10,000 mark.”
YEARS OF PAIN
Before surgery, Pamela had endured persistent acid reflux and heartburn from the hernia, a condition where the stomach pushes through the diaphragm muscle and into the chest.
“It started many years ago,” she says. “Even as a young adult, I had symptoms.”
Hiatal hernias are common, especially among older adults, affecting 15% to 20% of the population. Most cause no symptoms, and medications can manage the most common symptom: acid reflux.
Trust your gut to advanced GI care at Methodist by finding a digestive health specialist near you. Visit MethodistHealthSystem.org
That was not the case anymore for Pamela, whose hernia had begun to interfere with even the simplest activities.
“I’ve experienced where I just take one bite of my dinner and I’m in immediate pain,” she says.
Finding relief was crucial for Pamela, who leads an active lifestyle, whether she’s working as a house cleaner, studying to become a nurse, or spending time outdoors with her four grandchildren.
“I’m always on the go,” she says. “Whether it’s gardening, camping out in the RV, nature walks, or spending time with my grandkids — I stay busy.”
It was when Pamela found herself suffering from constant chest pain and shortness of breath that she knew it was time to act.
Methodist Mansfield celebrated the surgical milestone by honoring the staff who made it possible.
WORTH THE WAIT
In August, Pamela made the drive from Young County to Methodist Mansfield for her robotic-assisted surgery. While anxious, she hoped she would put the pain behind her for good.
“I’m no expert, but I feel like the machine and surgeon together are going to see me better and perform the surgery better,” Pamela says.
A form of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, the robotic surgical system gives surgeons a 3D perspective, and the instruments grant them precision that exceeds traditional laparoscopic surgery, Dr. Parcells says. That often allows for a quicker recovery and less pain for patients.
“It allows much better dexterity to take on more challenging tasks,” he says, “or simply do the same work you were doing before but better or more precisely.”
This precision was crucial for Pamela, whose hernia was nearly as wide as her stomach. With the help of her surgical team and the machine, the surgery went as planned.
“Being on the robot was such an advantage,” Dr. Parcells says. “I got better visualization with instruments that allowed me to do a little bit more in a short amount of time.”
Pamela is now ready to get back to her active life, keeping up with her four grandchildren.
10,000 AND COUNTING
Pamela was discharged two days after the surgery, when she felt well enough to make the two-hour drive home.
“I was expecting a lot of discomfort, but I didn’t have it,” Pamela says. “I had very little pain, so recovery has been really good.”
The hospital staff celebrated the milestone robotic surgery with a tribute to all 10,000 procedures.
“This is not the work of a single person,” Dr. Parcells says. “It’s a team mentality, like when you have a quarterback win the Super Bowl. It’s anything but an individual accomplishment, and I’ve got a banger of an offensive line.”
Pamela’s experience reflects this team-centered approach, and it’s why she believes her recovery has been so successful.
“Everything from beginning to end has just been really wonderful for me,” Pamela says. “This whole process has been great because of the people. It was definitely worth the two-hour drive to Methodist Mansfield.”
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