A pregnant woman from DeLand underwent a rare robotic gallbladder surgery during her third trimester at AdventHealth Fish Memorial, according to a March 18 announcement. Lysandra Sanchez, who was 32 weeks and five days pregnant, sought medical help after experiencing severe pain and vomiting. Doctors diagnosed her with cholecystitis, a serious gallbladder infection that can endanger both mother and child if not treated quickly.
The case highlights the challenges of treating complex medical conditions late in pregnancy. Gallbladder surgery is uncommon in the third trimester due to increased risks, but delaying treatment could have led to life-threatening complications for Sanchez and her unborn baby.
Dr. Huy Hoang, general surgeon at AdventHealth Fish Memorial, said, “Many surgeons are understandably cautious about operating this late in pregnancy. But when gallbladder disease becomes severe, waiting can put both the mother and baby at risk for serious complications. Our goal was to treat the problem quickly so she could safely continue her pregnancy.” Hoang explained that he had performed similar surgeries earlier in pregnancy but noted that Sanchez’s case was the latest stage he had operated on.
To minimize risks, the surgical team used a minimally invasive robotic procedure with the hospital’s da Vinci XI platform. This technology allowed precise operation despite limited space caused by the advanced stage of pregnancy. “Dr. Hoang was very confident about the surgery,” Sanchez said. “He explained how the robotic technology allows them to work with precision in a very small space, and that gave me a lot of reassurance.”
The urgency of Sanchez’s condition prompted staff and specialists to coordinate quickly for surgery on a Saturday—an unusual day for such procedures—to ensure timely care. After surgery, fetal monitoring confirmed that Sanchez’s baby was healthy. “When they told me the baby was doing well after the surgery, I could finally breathe,” she said.
Sanchez is now recovering and preparing to welcome her daughter later this spring at AdventHealth Fish Memorial. She expressed gratitude for the support she received: “I don’t know what would have happened without them.”
AdventHealth Orlando, located in Orlando, Florida, has served patients since its founding in 1908 and is led by president Terry Shaw; it also operates as a training hospital with pediatric services according to Wikipedia.
