Drs. Patrick Ilada and Corey Graham hold milestone awards presented to them during a celebration reception for each completing 500 robotic surgeries at Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital. Photo provided by LKH.

Press Release

WARSAW — The team at Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital recently celebrated robotic surgery milestones reached by two of their surgeons.

Drs. Patrick Ilada and Corey Graham both completed their 500th robotic surgery a little more than three years after performing the first minimally invasive surgeries at the hospital in September 2019.

The doctors typically perform minimally invasive robotic surgeries at the hospital once a week, and some more common procedures completed with the approach are hernia and gallbladder surgeries.

“Our patients are grateful their pain and length of recovery are shortened significantly through the minimally invasive robotic surgeries,” Ilada said. “Some who have had traditional surgeries in the past are surprised when their discomfort is less than anticipated.”

Robotic-assisted surgery is a minimally invasive approach that can be the most effective, least invasive option for certain procedures. Robotic surgery requires a few small incisions, rather than one larger one. Surgeons use special instruments that bend and rotate further than the human hand and a tiny camera and 3D high-definition vision system that helps guide surgeons and provides a magnified view, resulting in enhanced vision, precision and control. Because robotic surgery is less invasive, potential benefits include less pain, fewer complications, less blood loss, less scarring, shorter hospital stays and a faster return to normal daily activities.

“The robot allows for the precision and ease of an open surgery because of the high-definition camera and improved depth perception,” said Graham. “And our patients benefit from faster recovery times and reduced pain.”

Patients in and around the Warsaw area also benefit from the close location and shorter waits the robotic surgical services at LKH offer, Ilada said.

“Dr. Ilada’s and Graham’s surgical expertise are assets to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital and the whole community,” said Lynn Mergen, hospital CEO. “We are proud to have such dedicated surgeons and the team working alongside them to provide so many minimally invasive surgeries to our patients over the past three years.”