St. Elizabeth Hospital reports it is the first hospital in the state of Louisiana to perform a minimal-incision vertical sleeve gastrectomy using TransEnterix’s innovative new Spider^® Surgical System. Dr. Andrew Hargroder performed the surgery on July 17, 2012. There are currently fewer than 15 bariatric surgeons using the SPIDER technology nationwide. SPIDER has been used by surgeons to perform other procedures; however, this marks the first time it has been used in Louisiana to perform a vertical sleeve procedure.

Dr. Hargroder is a board-certified surgeon specializing in minimally invasive techniques. He has successfully performed more than 2500 weight loss surgeries. The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is rapidly becoming one of the most popular weight loss procedures available. Prior to using the SPIDER^® Surgical System, Dr. Hargroder used traditional laparoscopic methods, requiring six separate incisions in the patient's abdomen. SPIDER allows the procedure to be done through minimal incisions.