Day in the Life of Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Stephen Carryl

In the sleek, sterile world of modern medicine, the Da Vinci Surgical System stands as a testament to human ingenuity and technological advancement. Imagine a symphony of precision, where every movement is orchestrated with the utmost care, and the surgeon’s hands are guided by the steady, unerring touch of robotic arms. This photo essay will take you on a journey with NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem surgeon, Dr. Stephen Carryl and the surgical team. Get a glimpse into the heart of this groundbreaking technology, capturing the intricate dance between man and machine that is revolutionizing the way we approach non-invasive surgery.

Start Routine

For surgeon Dr. Stephen Carryl, the day starts out with a subway commute, arriving at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem by 6:30 a.m. in time for the day’s first surgery. Dr. Carryl has been with our health system for six years.

*Before getting to business, Dr. Carryl exchanges a few words with colleague and fellow surgeon, Dr. Cameron Wilkerson*

*Here Dr. Carryl consults with Surgical PA, Rachel Pascasio, ironing out some of the details for the first scheduled case.*

Right Patient, Right Surgery

As part of surgical safety procedures, Dr. Carryl and anesthesiologist Dr. Myint Maw are mandated to check the patient’s EHR to confirm completed medical history, lab test results and patient adherence to preoperative instructions.

*One extremely important component of the pre-surgical steps is to physically confirm patient identity.*

Preparing for Precision

Upon successful completion of mandated pre-surgery checks, the patient is taken to the operating room to prepare for surgery. This period includes tasks such as securing the intravenous line, preoxygenation, intubation, and ensuring the patient is stable under anesthesia.

*Here, certified surgical technologist Roxxi Braxton (right) dons surgical gloves on Dr. Carryl in preparation for the surgery.*

Minimally invasive robotic surgery using the Da Vinci Surgical System first became available to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem patients in March 2023. The hospital completes 30 robotic surgeries per month with 7 dedicated robotic surgeons—including Dr. Stephen Carryl. Harlem Hospital currently only has one Da Vinci Surgical System and hopes to add a second one soon.

From Scalpel to Screen: Tech Meets Technique

Certified surgical technologist Roxxi Braxton hands instruments to Dr. Carryl and the surgical team as they make small, minimally invasive incisions where trocars will be inserted and the Da Vinci robotic arms will be attached.

The surgical technologist plays an important role in ensuring safe and efficient surgeries. They make sure the necessary instruments for surgery are available and in order. During surgery, they hand instruments and supplies to the surgeon and surgical team and ensure a sterile environment.

Here, Dr. Carryl, with assistance from Chief Resident of Surgery, Dr. Shamar Gumbs, attaches robotic trocars, specialized surgical instruments used in the Da Vinci Surgical System. They serve as the entry points for robotic instruments and cameras during minimally invasive surgery.

*Dr. Carryl and the surgical team can visualize the structures inside the patient on large monitors strategically positioned in the OR, offering multiple viewing angles.*

The robotic arm mimics the movements of a human hand but with a greater range of motion. The pincers at the end can grip and move structures inside the body.

This precision enables the surgeons to skillfully and accurately maneuver internal organs and tissues. Note that this Da Vinci Surgical System has two consoles, which allow Dr. Carryl to get assistance from Dr. Gumbs.

*From the Da Vinci console, Dr .Carryl’s hand movements are transformed into precise, tremor-free actions within the patient’s body via the robotic arms.*

*Robotic arms are controlled by the surgeon at the console and allows for safe minimally invasive procedures.*

Dr. Carryl says that as a safety-net health care system, he believes it would be a form of bias if patients were not offered the latest technologies that improve their health and wellness.

“I am very proud to be part of the team of people who advocated strongly for the purchase and utilization of the Da Vinci Surgical System. Minimally invasive robotic surgery is now part of our health system’s standard armamentarium and surgical approach and is integral to ensuring equitable access to health care services to our patient population.”

“Today, I believe all of our hospitals have at least one Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System—some have two and this is testament to the hard work done by everyone to ensure that NYC Health + Hospitals stays true to its mission and vision,” he said.

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