Minimally invasive robotic-assisted colorectal surgery specialist.
Charleston, SC - Trident Medical Center has been designated a national Case Observation Site for minimally invasive robotic-assisted colorectal surgery. The program is led by board-certified and Fellowship-trained robotic surgery pioneer Cesar Santiago, MD, FACS, FASCRS, Tri-County Surgical Associates. Dr. Santiago has also earned designation as an Epicenter for minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery. He is the only Epicenter-designated surgeon in South Carolina.
"As a Case Observation Site surgeons from around the United States and the world will travel to Trident Medical Center to train under Dr. Santiago," explained Trident Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Lee Biggs. "This is a testament to his skills as a surgeon and the outcomes of his patients." Dr. Santiago joined Trident Medical Center's medical staff in April 2019 after practicing in New York and Florida. He is also a published surgeon and has lectured and taught around the world.
Trident Health, which includes Trident Medical Center, Summerville Medical Center, Moncks Corner Medical Center and Centre Pointe Emergency, is celebrating the 12th year of its minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery program. Trident Health surgeons perform more robotic surgeries than any other hospital in South Carolina's Lowcountry and is the state's second busiest program.
"Colorectal surgery is complex since it involves multiple quadrants in the abdomen, and you are working in the confines of a narrow pelvis," said Dr. Santiago. "Patients want to maintain as much of their bodily functions as possible while treating the disease. My interest in finding a better, safer and patient-friendly surgical approach started more than a decade ago.
"Minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery provides many benefits to the patient that traditional surgery doesn't. The benefits include less pain, better outcomes and shorter hospital stays. Over time I developed surgical techniques and designed equipment that help patients and the surgeons. It's a very rewarding experience to give someone hope when they had lost it."
Dr. Santiago has taught surgeons in the US, South America, Asia, Canada, Australia and other countries. He also developed surgical techniques and equipment that set the standard of care for his specialty.
Intuitive Surgical, the manufacturer of the da Vinci robot, has designated Dr. Santiago an Colorectal Robotic Epicenter. Criteria for Epicenter designation include performing more than 1,000 minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgeries; maintaining quality and patient safety outcomes; and teaching other surgeons.
Dr. Santiago joins an all-star team of Trident Health surgeons who specialize in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery. Surgeons have performed more than 8,000 cases at Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center. At Trident Health robotic surgery is being used for heart, lung, gynecologic, urologic, spine, hernia and other general surgery procedures.