Mega Doctor News
For three decades, South Texas Health System (STHS) Heart has stood at the forefront of cardiovascular care in the Rio Grande Valley, evolving well beyond its origins as one of the first dedicated heart hospitals in the United States to deliver advanced, patient-focused services across multiple specialties.
Driven by a commitment to innovation and improved patient outcomes, the facility expanded its capabilities in June 2023 with the introduction of its robotic surgery program, anchored by the da Vinci Xi Surgical System. This advanced technology enables surgeons to perform complex procedures with enhanced precision through minimally invasive techniques.
In the brief time since its launch, the program has transformed surgical care at the facility.
Now, nearly three years later, STHS Heart is celebrating a major milestone: the completion of its 700th robotic-assisted surgery, underscoring its continued dedication to bringing innovative care closer to home.
Performed by Jesus Garcia, MD, a fellowship-trained bariatric and foregut surgeon, the milestone procedure was a hiatal hernia repair — a minimally invasive surgery that corrects the stomach’s protrusion through the diaphragm.
“The advanced technique allows for greater precision, helping reduce pain, shorten recovery times and deliver strong functional outcomes for patients,” says Dr. Garcia. “By leveraging robotic technology, we’re able to provide a higher level of care that supports faster healing and helps our patients return to their daily lives with confidence.”
The da Vinci Xi Surgical System is an advanced, computer-assisted platform that extends a surgeon’s capabilities beyond the limits of the human hand and eye, providing enhanced visualization, precision and control during complex procedures.
Using this technology, surgeons operate through a series of small incisions, typically about a centimeter or less, rather than the larger openings required in traditional surgery.
“This minimally invasive approach helps reduce trauma to the body, leading to less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery for patients,” says Dr. Garcia. “It also allows us to perform complex procedures with a level of precision that ultimately supports better outcomes and an improved overall experience for our patients.”
The path to 700 robotic procedures began in the summer of 2023, when Ernesto Garza, MD, performed the first robot-assisted surgery at STHS Heart, a landmark moment that introduced a new level of precision and minimally invasive care to the facility.
In the years since, the program has expanded rapidly, supporting a diverse range of procedures, from hernia repairs, gallbladder removals and colorectal surgeries to bariatric interventions such as sleeve gastrectomies and gastric bypasses.
This continued growth reflects STHS Heart’s unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence, bringing advanced surgical technologies together with compassionate, patient-centered care to enhance outcomes and improve lives across the Rio Grande Valley.
“Reaching this milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to bringing advanced surgical innovation to the Rio Grande Valley,” says Brenda Ivory, Chief Executive Officer, STHS Heart. “By integrating leading-edge technology like the da Vinci Xi Surgical System, we’re able to offer patients highly precise, minimally invasive procedures that reduce recovery time, minimize discomfort and support better overall outcomes. As our robotic surgery program continues to grow, so does our ability to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our community, ensuring patients have access to exceptional, high-quality care close to home.”
STHS Heart’s da Vinci Xi Surgical System represents the third of its kind within STHS, highlighting the organization’s system-wide investment in advanced surgical technology.
STHS Edinburg first introduced the da Vinci Xi platform in 2015, becoming the first facility south of San Antonio to do so, and later expanded its capabilities with a second system in February 2021.
Building on that foundation, both STHS Edinburg and STHS McAllen have since integrated the next generation da Vinci 5 system, one of the most advanced and fully integrated robotic surgical platforms available, further reinforcing STHS’ leadership in minimally invasive surgical care across the region.
For more information about the minimally invasive surgical services available at STHS Heart, visit STHSHeart.com or call (956) 994-2000.
