October 2025
A cutting-edge surgical assistant is transforming patient care at Providence Portland Medical Center. With the help of the da Vinci robotic system, surgeon Rodrigo Pedraza, M.D., is utilizing a less invasive approach that’s reshaping the surgical experience for those in his care.
Recently, the FDA approved the da Vinci robot single port platform for colorectal surgeries. This minimally invasive technique allows surgeons to make one small incision, creating less blood loss and trauma for the body. “Patients can return to regular activity sooner, and there’s a lower risk of complications,” Dr. Pedraza says.
On July 17, Providence Portland Medical Center became the first hospital in Oregon to perform a colorectal procedure using this FDA-approved process. “We’re the highest-volume colorectal cancer program in the state,” Dr. Pedraza says. "With so many daily patients, it’s important to provide fast, reliable care."
Above: Dr. Pedraza works with the da Vinci technology.
This year, Providence Portland Medical Center has performed more than 9,500 surgeries, and 917 were performed with da Vinci robotic platforms, “This has been our busiest year with our robotic platforms,” Surgical services director Josh says. “We performed 315 more surgeries than in 2024."
“Robotic surgery has been around for more than a decade at Providence Portland, with new platforms being used across service lines for elective, oncology, urgent and emergent surgical cases.” Josh says. “We were the first in Oregon to use the da Vinci Single Port platform for colon resection surgery.”
Dr. Pedraza sees no end to the possibilities of this platform, expressing gratitude for the steps taken to keep compassionate care at the forefront of patient service. “We will continue to find new technologies for our patients as long as safety is preserved.”
Related news
- Explore our colon cancer program services.
- See a story about improved surgical support for our patients.
- Watch a virtual talk on understanding lung cancer.
