Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Otolaryngologist, Dr. William Gross, recently teamed up with Middle Tennessee Medical Center to perform corrective surgery for the treatment of Sleep Apnea, using the daVinci® Robot. This innovative procedure is less invasive and requires less recovery time, all the while producing excellent results. Originally used for Transoral Robotic Surgical Resection for the removal of cancer, the daVinci® Robot is a dramatic leap forward for patients seeking less invasive surgical solutions for ailments such as Sleep Apnea.

Dr. Gross stated, “The da Vinci Robotic Surgery is an amazing breakthrough for our Sleep Apnea patients and I am honored to be the first surgeon to use it in Murfreesboro. Because the robot can go where the human hand and eye can’t, we can dramatically reduce the invasiveness of head, neck and throat surgeries. This minimally invasive procedure can reduce recovery time and eliminate the need for once required procedures such as splitting and/or removing part of the jaw in order to access the throat. Also, it can reduce extensive cosmetic and functional post-op problems.”

Sleep Apnea is a chronic and common sleep disorder that causes those with the condition to stop breathing while sleeping. This disruption is often caused by excess tonsilar tissue in the back of the throat that clogs the airway and prevents the person from getting proper sleep. A lack of quality sleep can cause a variety of symptoms such as chronic fatigue, irritability and weight gain.

T. Flowers, a Sleep Apnea patient of Dr. Gross, stated, “Since the surgery, I have slept more and better than I have in the last five years combined. I feel ten years younger, have lost almost 40 pounds, and generally feel like a new man. When asked if I would have the surgery over again, I respond with an emphatic, “Heck yeah! In a heartbeat!” The small amount of pain and relatively short recovery time are, in my mind, well worth the possibility of a lifetime of better sleep. All without the hassle of wearing something awkward and/or bulky to bed, and nothing to maintain or keep up with. My many thanks and life-long indebtedness go out to Dr. Gross for curing my Sleep Apnea and enabling me to live a normal life again”

“Sleep Apnea patients like Mr. Flowers, are the perfect candidates for this groundbreaking procedure. We’re very happy with the results and look forward to helping others that are suffering from Sleep Apnea,” said, Dr. Gross.

The daVinci®  Robot-Assisted Surgical System is one of the latest advances in sleep medicine for the treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnea. The daVinci® SI Surgical System provides surgeons with enhanced capabilities such as high-definition 3D vision and magnification. The surgeon is able to make more precise movements of tiny instruments, thus allowing for less invasive surgical procedures.

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and Dr. William Gross are proud to partner with the Middle Tennessee Medical Center on advanced technologies and procedures such as the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System, which it installed recently. We look forward to future advancements in patient care with all of our health care partners.