Broward Health surgeon achieves milestone with 2,555 robotic-assisted procedures

Dr Alexander Parr, a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon with the Broward Health Physician Group, has reached a milestone achievement, performing his 2,555th robotic-assisted procedure using the Da Vinci Surgical System at Broward Health Imperial Point, marking a significant landmark in his career and underscoring Broward Health’s commitment to advanced surgical technology.

Alexander Parr

“Reaching 2,555 robotic-assisted procedures is an exciting milestone, but more importantly it represents the thousands of patients who have been able to benefit from minimally invasive surgery,” said Parr. “For a lot of gastric bypass and sleeve patients, these procedures are truly lifechanging.”

Robotic-assisted procedures allow surgeons to perform complex operations through smaller incisions, often resulting in less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times for patients.

A recent complex case, his 2,500th, involved a robotic sleeve gastrectomy performed using the Da Vinci Xi surgical system on a patient with severe obesity. Parr noted that the patient had one of the largest stomachs he had encountered, which, combined with a significantly thick abdominal wall, made the procedure more technically challenging. However, the enhanced precision and visualisation provided by the robotic platform allowed the surgery to be performed safely and effectively. The patient has since made a full recovery and has experienced substantial weight loss following the bariatric procedure.

Parr takes a multidisciplinary approach to bariatric care, working closely with a team that includes a dietician, bariatric coordinator and psychiatrist to support patients throughout their surgical and weight-loss journey. He was one of the early adopters of robotic surgery for the field of general surgery and bariatric surgery.

In 2012, Parr received robotic training in collaboration with Intuitive Surgical, the company that created the Da Vinci Surgical System. His surgical work includes procedures such as inguinal and hiatal hernias, gallbladder, colorectal, gastric bypass and gastric sleeve.

This milestone reflects Broward Health’s continued investment in advanced surgical technology and highly trained specialists, ensuring patients in South Florida have access to leading-edge care, right in their community.

To learn more about bariatric surgery, please click here