6 SAHealth.com KEEPINGWELL — SPRING 2022 Harold, 99, proves that age is just a number In September, Harold “Soupy” Reich, 99, had a fall and fractured his hip. After surgery, Harold was transferred to Methodist Hospital | Texsan for rehabilitation. Harold had one goal while completing his rehab journey: to be able to attend the wedding of his granddaughter Molly and her fiancé, Marcus Moss, in Memphis. “Harold was a unique patient. He wanted to remain independent,” said Kelly Quintero, a Methodist Hospital | Texsan physical therapist. She focused on improving his mobility, strength, and balance. “Making a comeback from a hip fracture is pretty difficult, and he did it.” Helene Abrams, Harold’s daughter and Molly’s mother, describes her father as self-sufficient and extremely driven. “He lives alone, attends the gym on a regular basis, and he is even on Facebook,” said Helene. When the special day finally arrived, Harold was able to walk his granddaughter down the aisle. Later, they shared an unforgettable dance. Helene said, “My daddy put up a fight. It was tough, but he worked hard and the staff at Texsan was amazing. They went above and beyond. Everyone at the wedding was so surprised to see my daddy there.” For nearly 10 years, head and neck surgical oncologists at Methodist Hospital have been robotically treating patients with malignant and benign conditions of the throat, tonsils and tongue, using a specialized and advanced technology only available in select areas of the country. Methodist Hospital recently adopted the newest edition to its acclaimed robotic fleet, the “SP,” also known as single port. Methodist Hospital is the first hospital in South Texas to welcome this advanced technology, and with a track record of robotic surgical excellence, Methodist Hospital’s head and neck surgical oncologists are among the most experienced in the state at performing these cases. The new single port robot is specifically designed to provide exposure through a single port for head and neck surgery as well as certain urology cases. The device is equipped with enhanced instrumentation, camera angles and a new design, which enable better maneuverability and visibility and allow physicians to reach places in the mouth and throat that may have been inaccessible or very difficult to access with conventional robotic systems. Whereas previous generation robots used three separate, rigid arms through three separate ports, a tight fit for a patient’s mouth and throat, the single port is ideally suited for minimally invasive surgery through a single port using flexible instruments. “The SP is going to allow us access to more tumors than we had before and give more patients surgical options and, in the end, better patient outcomes,” commented Nathan Hales, MD, Director of Head and Neck Surgery/Transoral Robotic Surgery Program at Methodist Hospital. “The instruments allow us to do more in smaller areas and ultimately help more people.” Methodist Hospital physicians take surgery to new levels with innovative robotic technology
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