Francisco Civantos, center, performs robotic removal of throat cancer at University of Miami Hospital. OR technician Michel De La Cruz, left, assists.

Surgeons from the Department of Otolaryngology at UHealth – University of Miami Health System have performed the first removal of throat cancer in South Florida using a surgical robot. The procedure represents a milestone in UHealth’s development of minimally invasive endoscopic procedures for treatment of head and neck cancers.

The operation was performed March 22 at University of Miami Hospital by Francisco Civantos, associate professor of otolaryngology and member of the Head and Neck Cancer Site Disease Group at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Giovana Thomas, associate professor of otolaryngology and member of the Head and Neck Cancer Site Disease Group at Sylvester. They were accompanied by Raymond J. Leveillee, professor of urology, who is an experienced urologic robotic surgeon.

Traditional surgery for various head and neck cancers requires large incisions extending from the lip, across the chin, and to the neck before entering the mouth or throat. Surgeons often need to cut through the lower jaw and move aside vital nerves to gain access to the back of the mouth and throat.

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The Division of Plastic Surgery will present grand rounds on Wednesday, April 14 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at University of Miami Hospital, Seminar Center C. Warren Hammert, visiting professor and associate professor of orthopaedics and plastic surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center, will present “Flexor Tendon Surgery: Where Have We Been and Where Are We Now?” For more information, contact Myra Ramos at 305-585-5285 or e-mail [email protected].

Gene Sung, MPH Director, Division of Neurocritical Care and Stroke at the University of Southern California, will present Cardiology Grand Rounds CME/CNE Accredited Lecture “Patient-Focused Barriers and Opportunities for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation” on Tuesday, April 6 from 12-1 p.m. at the University of Miami Hospital, 1295 NW 14th Street, South Building, first-floor Seminar Center A&B. For more information, call Yanay Tabraue at 305-243-1998 or e-mail [email protected].

Marco Ricci, associate professor of surgery and director of pediatric cardiac surgery, will present “Recent Advances in the Surgical Management of Adult Congenital Heart Disease” on Tuesday, March 9 from 12 to 1 p.m. at University of Miami Hospital, South Building, first-floor Seminar Center A and B. For more information, call Raquel Mota at 305-243-9120 or e-mail [email protected].

E. Joseph Bauerlein, associate professor of clinical medicine in the Cardiovascular Division, will present “Cardiac Transplantation” on Tuesday, February 16 from 12 to 1 p.m. at University of Miami Hospital, first-floor Seminar Center A and B. For more information, call Raquel Mota at 305-243-9120 or e-mail [email protected].

Juan Rivera, assistant professor of medicine at South Beach Preventive Cardiology, will present “Application of Imaging Technology to Cardiovascular Prevention” on Tuesday, February 23 from 12 to 1 p.m. at University of Miami Hospital, South Building, first-floor Seminar Center A and B. For more information, call Raquel Mota at 305-243-9120 or e-mail [email protected].

Tomas Berl, professor of medicine in the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension at the University of Colorado, will present “Hyponatremia: Something Old, Something New” on Thursday, January 28 at 12 p.m. at University of Miami Hospital, first-floor Seminar Centers A and B. Lecture participants will review the pathogenesis of hyponatremia, discuss the symptoms of acute and chronic hyponatremia, and provide a therapeutic approach and update on recent treatment developments. The lecture is designed for family practitioners, emergency physicians, surgeons, internists, and hospitalists. This is a non-CME event. For more information, contact Janette Jurado at [email protected] or visit www.cme.med.miami.edu.

Joel Fishman, associate professor and medical director of Radiology Imaging Services and chief of the Section of Thoracic Radiology at the Miller School of Medicine, will present “Cardiac MR: Beyond Anatomy and Function” on Tuesday, February 2 from 12 to 1 p.m. at University of Miami Hospital, South Building, first-floor Seminar Center A and B. For more information, call Raquel Mota at 305-243-9120 or e-mail [email protected].