New technology is expected to expand minimally invasive surgical options for patients in Sevier County and surrounding communities.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (Smokies.LIVE Health Center) — Covenant Health LeConte Medical Center is preparing to bring the latest generation of robotic surgical technology to Sevier County, expanding options for patients who need complex procedures close to home.
The hospital plans to introduce the da Vinci 5 surgical system, the newest generation of the da Vinci robotic platform, according to Dr. Jeffrey King, a board-certified surgeon with more than 25 years of medical experience at LeConte Surgical Associates in Sevierville.
King said the technology will support surgeons performing complex operations that have long been available at the hospital.
The robotic system provides surgeons with greater flexibility in positioning instruments inside the abdomen than traditional laparoscopic techniques, King said. That can help surgeons perform certain procedures through minimally invasive approaches rather than open surgery.
King said robotic surgery has demonstrated benefits for patient care, including the potential for fewer complications and fewer operations requiring an open approach.
Initial procedures using the system are expected to include gallbladder surgery, abdominal wall hernia repairs and colon cancer operations. The technology may also be used for complex pelvic surgeries and gynecologic procedures, including hysterectomies.
For patients in a largely rural region such as Sevier County, access to advanced surgical technology locally can be an important benefit, potentially reducing the need to travel to larger metropolitan areas for certain procedures.
King said the hospital’s investment reflects a shared commitment among the medical center, its administrative leadership and the surrounding community to improving patient outcomes.
“For a small community to have this kind of commitment to patient care is just an unbelievable benefit,” King said.
In addition to his surgical work, King serves as a Tennessee state air surgeon and has a longstanding military career as a flight surgeon in the Air National Guard.
The planned arrival of the da Vinci 5 system represents another step in LeConte Medical Center’s efforts to expand its surgical capabilities and provide patients with access to evolving medical technology in their home community.
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