>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT STATE OF TOURISM IN ARIZONA NOW THAT SNOWBIRD SEASON IS APPROACHING FULL BLOOM.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER AN ASTEROID THAT COULD HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE MOON.

>>> ENCOURAGING NEWS REGARDING ROBOTIC SURGERY FOR PANCREATIC CANCER.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

MEMBERS OF THE ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD WERE AMONG THE MORE THAN 40 INJURED IN JORDAN.

KERRY MUELENBACK SAID STATE GUARD MEMBERS WERE NOT AMONG THE FATALITIES AND NO WORD ON HOW MANY GUARD MEMBERS WERE INJURED AND THE EXTENT OF THOSE INJURES.

REPORTS FROM THE "NEW YORK TIMES" SAYS THE ATTACK AT THE TOWER 22 BASE, AND IS THAT BECAUSE THEY ATTACKED THE ATTACKING DRONE WITH AN AMERICAN SURVEILLANCE DRONE RETURNING TO THE BASE AND THAT'S THE REASON THAT AIR DEFENSES WERE NOT IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED.

MILITIA GROUPS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA WORKING ON BEHALF OF IRAN ARE BLAMED FOR THE ATTACK.

>> CAN'T DENY THE FACT THERE HAVE BEEN A SERIES OF ATTACKS NOW OVER WEEKS AND MONTHS, WHICH IS WHY THE PRESIDENT WILL BE REVIEWING WHAT THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE IS GOING FORWARD.

WE DON'T WANT ATTACKS TO CONTINUE.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THEY'RE UNACCEPTABLE.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR WE'LL DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO PROTECT OUR TROOPS AND NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST.

THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS AND WE TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

>> Ted: YESTERDAY'S ATTACK WAS THE FIRST TIME THE U.S. MILITARY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A DIRECT STRIKE SINCE THE WAR BEGAN.

HALF OF THE TOP GOVERNMENT IDENTITIERS OF THE UN PALESTINIAN RELIEF AGENCY HAVE SUSPENDED FUNDING SAYING THE STAFF MEMBERS WERE INVOLVED ON THE OCTOBER 7th ATTACK ON ISRAEL.

THEY ANNOUNCED THE SUSPENSIONS TODAY INCLUDING THE U.S. AND THE EU WHICH IS THE AGENCY'S LARGEST DONOR.

>>> OTHER HEADLINES, SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA SPENT $200,000 ON AIR FLIGHTS AND HAS FLOWN PRIVATELY 11 TIMES INCLUDING FIVE TIMES THE LAST YEAR ALONE AS SHE FACES AN ETHIC'S COMPLAINT OVER CAMPAIGN SPENDING INCLUDING FOREIGN TRAVEL AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

AND IT COMES AS SHE HAS YET TO ANNOUNCE IF SHE'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

>>> ONE MORE NOTE, IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A VACATION TO THE BAHAMAS, THINK AGAIN.

THERE'S A TRAVEL WARNING DUE TO A SPIKE IN CRIME ON THE ISLANDS.

THERE HAVE BEEN 18 MURDERS IN NASA JUST THIS MONTH WITH CRIMINAL GANGS BEHIND THE VIOLENCE.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS URGING INCREASED CAUTION SPECIFICALLY ON THE ISLAND OF THE GRAND BAHAMA AND NEW PROVIDENCE INCLUDING NASA.

>>> THERE'S THE DOUBLE FINAL FOUR BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND BASEBALL AND HOW MUCH ARE THEY LIKELY TO SPEND?

WE ASK KIM SABOW.

GOOD TO YOU HAVE.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF TOURISM RIGHT NOW IN ARIZONA?

>> WELL, FIRST, TED, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I THINK IS THE GREATEST INDUSTRY ON EARTH.

THE STATE OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IS FANTASTIC!

2023, WE SAW OUR BEST NUMBERS ON RECORD AND WE'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC GOING INTO 2024.

>> Ted: FULLY RECOVERED FROM COVID?

>> YES.

2023, THEY WERE HIGHER THAN 2020 PANDEMIC.

>> Ted: DID COVID CHANGE MUCH, ANYTHING AT ALL, IN THE WAY TOURISM IS LOOKED AT AND APPROACHED HERE IN ARIZONA?

>> I THINK THE PANDEMIC IMPACTED EVERY SECTOR EVERY INDUSTRY.

WHERE WE WERE HIT THE MOST WAS IN OUR WORKFORCE.

WE WERE HIT WORSE AS AN INDUSTRY AND WE LOST UPWARDS OF 50% OF OUR WORKFORCE AT THE HIGHEST OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO GET THAT WORKFORCE BACK AND LAST TIME I WAS HERE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT AN INDUSTRY HUB THAT WE CREATED, AZHOSPITALITYCAREERS.COM.

>> Ted: HOW IS THAT WORKING?

>> FANTASTIC!

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB, LOOK TO TOURISM.

IT'S ENTRY LEVEL ALL THE WAY UP.

A GREAT CAREER TRAJECTORY.

>> Ted: WHO IS THE AVERAGE TOURIST, WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM AND GIVE US A DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN?

>> THAT'S A COMPLICATED QUESTION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A TYPICAL TOURIST.

ARIZONA SEES THE LEISURE TRAVELERS AND WE SEE BUSINESS TRAVELERS.

WE SEE TRAVELERS COMING FOR SPORT'S TOURISM.

SO WE SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS.

OUR NUMBER ONE VISITATION MARKET IS MEXICO FOLLOWED BY CANADA AND NOW IS THAT SEASON WHERE WE'LL SEE A LOT OF OUR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS, ESPECIALLY FROM CANADA COME DOWN FOR OUR WARM WEATHER.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS WHERE THEY SPEND THE MONEY, OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE YOUR SEDONA'S AND GRAND CANYON.

>> WE'RE EDUCATION FOR THE INDUSTRY AND WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM SKIING TO GOLF.

IN THE SOUTH, WE'VE GOT WINERIES AND THE GRAND CANYON, THE NATIONAL WONDER IS RIGHT HERE AND WE HAVE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

>> Ted: DOES THIS HELP WITH NOT HAVING A SUPER BOWL?

>> WE HAD THE NACC DOUBLE 4 IN 2017 AND THAT WAS A $4 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT.

THE SUPER BOWL LAST YEAR WAS A $1.3 BILLION IMPACT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE ARE LESSED HERE BECAUSE YEAR ROUND, WE HAVE MANY MEGA EVENTS AND NOT EVEN MANY.

WE JUST ARE WRAPPING UP INTO THE WM PHOENIX OPEN AND ON THE HEELS OF THAT, WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO CACTUS LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING.

>> Ted: HOW DOES THE SCHEMATIC CHANGE WHEN A PLACE LIKE LAsVEGAS HAS A SUPER BOWL?

HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT?

>> THERE IS, INDEED, A COMPETITION AND THAT'S WHY WE ENCOURAGE US AS A STATE, AS A COMMUNITY, AS POLICY MAKERS TO CONSIDER INVESTING IN THIS.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT INVESTING IN AN AREA, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GIVING YOU THE MOST RETURN AND I WOULD SAY THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND TOURISM IS FANTASTIC!

THERE WAS A STUDY THAT JIM ROUNDS DID THAT SHOWED THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN TOURISM MARKETS, IT YIELDS A $20 RETURN AND PRETTY GOOD.

>> Ted: WITH THE SUPER BOWL AT THE BORDER HERE, ARE YOU EMPHASIZING THE GRAND CANYON AND NORTHERN ARIZONA IN PARTICULAR?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

WE COURT THEM JUST TO DRIVE OVER.

THAT'S A DRIVE MARKET FOR US.

FOLLOWING THE SUPER BOWL, CHECK OUT ALL WE HAVE TO OFFER.

THE GRAND CANYON IS RIGHT THERE.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS THE PHOENIX OPEN, THAT'S STILL A BIGGIE AND IS IT GETTING TO BE TOO BIG OF A BIGGIE AND AT WHAT POINT DO PEOPLE SAY I'M NOT GOING?

>> MORE PEOPLE ARE SAYING ARE YOU GOING?

EVERY YEAR IT'S GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND THE THUNDERBIRDS ARE ADDING VENUES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND IT'S A GREAT EVENT TO ATTEND.

>> Ted: HOTEL SPACE IN THE STATE AND HOW ARE WE LOOKING?

>> LOOKING GREAT AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, METRO PHOENIX SAW A RECORD NUMBER OF NEW BUILDS IN 2023.

SO WE'RE BUILDING MORE AND MORE HOTELS.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED THIS, LAWMAKERS, POLICY MAKERS AND PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM.

THAT CAN BE A TOUGH FIGHT AT TIMES.

ARE PEOPLE GETTING A BETTER SENSE OF THAT OR DO THEY STILL NEED A COUPLE OF REMINDERS HERE AND THERE?

>> I THINK WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, ALWAYS EDUCATING ON THE IMPORTANCE, BUT WE'LL NEVER STOP.

THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE FACT THIS IS FRONT DOOR TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WHEN CEOS AND COMPANIES ARE THINKING ABOUT EXPANDING OR RELOCATING, THEY VISIT FIRST.

>> Ted: AND LAST QUESTION, IS TOURISM IN ARIZONA TAKEN FOR GRANTED?

>> I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT THAT HAPPENS.

WE'RE HERE TO BE THE VOICE OF ADVOCACY CONSTANTLY TELLING THE STORY OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THIS INDUSTRY HAS.

ECONOMIC IMPACT AND ONE OF THE LARGEST JOB CREATORS IN THE STATE.

>> Ted: SO WE SHOULD ALL BE PATIENT WHEN SOMEONE WITH AN OUT OF STATE LICENSE PLATE IS CUTTING US OFF.

JUST REMEMBER THE BUCKS.

[ Laughter ] >> ABSOLUTELY, WE WELCOME THEM.

>> Ted: THANK YOU, KIM.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, AN ASTEROID THAT MAY HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE MOON.

>> DEEP IN A TROPICAL RAIN FOREST, THERE'S A SEARCH FOR GIANTS.

>> IN THE BEGINNING, THERE ARE THE SHADOWS.

>> THIS IS THE STUFF OF LEGENDS AND RARELY SEEN IN THE WILD.

TODAY THEY'VE JUST WELCOMED A PRECIOUS NEW ADDITION TO THE GROUP.

FOLLOW ALONG FOR A RARE LOOK AT LIFE IN THIS TRUTH OF FOREST GIANTS.

>> WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> IN THE SAHARA DESERT, TELLING YOU WHAT LIVE LOOKED LIKE 40 MILLION YEARS AGO.

THEY REVEAL THE ORIGINS.

>> OF WHAT LIVED HERE A LONG TIME AGO.

>> OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST MAMMALS.

>> THIS IS SO AWESOME!

THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING MAMMALS DO.

>> WHEN WHALES COULD WALK.

THIS IS WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: ASTRONOMERS HAVE DISCOVERED AN ASTEROID THAT MAY HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE MOON.

RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA ARE STUDYING THIS SO-CALLED NEAR-EARTH OBJECT.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND JOINING US IS A RESPECTER, THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA GRADUATE STUDENT, DANIEL CASTRO CISNEROS.

NEAR-EARTH ASTEROID POSSIBLY FROM THE MOON AND HOW SURE ARE YOU?

ARE THERE STILL QUESTIONS AND HOW DO YOU KNOW IT'S FROM THE MOON?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE AND ALLOWING US TO SHARE SOME OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.

WE HAVE STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OBJECT AND ABOUT ALL OF THE FAMILY OF OBJECTS.

THIS INVESTIGATION HAS HAD SEVERAL STEPS ALREADY THAT HAVE LEAD US TO THINK THAT THE OBJECT MAY COME FROM THE MOON.

SO THIS OBJECT WAS DISCOVERED IN 2016 AND THEN IN 2020, SOME ASTRONOMERS HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, THEY WERE ABLE TO MEASURE WHAT WE CALL THE SPECTRUM OF THE OBJECTS.

SO JUST TO SAY IT ROUGHLY, THE WAY THESE OBJECTS REFLECT LIGHT, IT TELLS THING ABOUT THE COMPOSITION OF THE OBJECTS.

WHEN THEY MADE THE COMPARISON WITH LUNAR SAMPLES, IT SEEMED TO BE SIMILAR.

>> Ted: INTERESTING.

>> SO NOW, WE HAVE THIS HYPOTHESIS IT MAY COME FROM THE MOON.

SO WE SAID LET'S ASSUME THAT SOME TIME IN THE PAST, PERHAPS MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO, THERE WAS SOME IMPACT AT THE SURFACE OF THE MOON AND THIS EJECTED MULTIPLE PARTICLES AWAY FROM THE MOON WITH MULTIPLE SPEEDS, IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE THAT SOME OF THE FRAGMENTS REACHED AN ORBIT SIMILAR TO THIS OBJECT.

AND WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT, YES, IT'S POSSIBLE.

THERE IS A SMALL FRACTION OF THE OBJECTIONS THEY REACH AN ORBIT LIKE THIS.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED ORBIT, BUT CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IT SOUNDS THIS IS ORBITING THE SUN AND NOT NECESSARILY THE MOON.

>> THIS IS AN INTERESTING POINT.

SO WE CALL THIS OBJECT A QUASISATELLITE.

AS THE DIFFERENCE?

THIS IS OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE CALL THE SPHERE OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE EARTH.

OUTSIDE OF THE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE IS WHERE THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCE IS IMPORTANT.

IT'S INFERENCED BY THE SUN.

SO THIS OBJECT IS OUTSIDE OF THE INFLUENCE AND ORBITING AROUND THE SUN AND SIMILAR TO THE EARTH AND SO, IT'S VERY CLOSE TO THE EARTH AND SOMETIMES IT IS AHEAD OF THE EARTH AND SOMETIMES IT'S BEHIND.

SO FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, IT SEEMS IT IS MOVING AROUND THE EARTH.

>> Ted: THAT'S FASCINATING.

YOU MENTIONED IMPACT THINGS, EFFECT AND WHO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS.

I WOULD IMAGINE SOME OF THAT STUFF GOES BACK INTO THE MOON, DOES IT NOT?

SOMETHING THAT GOES DOWN AND SOME OF IT GOES UP.

WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE?

>> YES.

THAT IS CORRECT.

SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE FACTORS THAT ARE GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE WHAT WILL BE THE STATE OF THESE FRAGMENTS.

SOME OF THEM WON'T BE FAST ENOUGH TO ESCAPE FROM THE MOON AND THEY WANT TO COME BACK AND FALL INTO THE MOON.

SOME OF THEM, THEY'LL GO VERY FAST AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY -- THEY WILL COLLIDE WITH THE EARTH OR THEY CAN BE ALSO VERY FAST AND ESCAPE INTO A MORE HELIOCENTRIC ORBIT TO THE SUN.

THERE'S A BALANCE OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT FACTORS.

THERE'S THE SPEED OF THE PARTICLE AND THE DIRECTION AND WHERE IN THE MOON THE IMPACT WAS PRODUCED.

SO ALL OF THE COMBINATIONS, THEY PRODUCE A GREAT DIVERSITY OF POSSIBLE FATES.

>> Ted: AGAIN, I'M SEEING IF IT'S ORBITING THE SUN, EVENTUALLY IT'S FAR AWAY AND DIFFICULT TO SEE.

IS THAT TRUE OR CAN YOU JUST STUDY THIS, YOU KNOW, ALL YEAR ROUND?

>> SO THIS OBJECT HAS THE INTERESTING PROPERTIES THAT WE THINK ITS SURFACE IS VERY STABLE.

SO IT IS UNCOMMON FOR THIS KIND OF NEAR OBJECTS, BUT WE THINK THAT THIS KIND OF MOTION, THIS KIND OF ORBIT WILL BE PERSISTENT OVER MILLIONS OF YEARS, THAT IS WHAT WE THINK.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, THEY THINK THIS IS A LONG-TERM COMPANION OF THE EARTH.

>> Ted: IT STICKS CLOSE TO HOME.

EVEN THOUGH EVERYONE IS CIRCLING THE SUN.

LAST QUESTION HERE.

I KNOW THAT PEOPLE LIKE TO LOOK AT ASTEROIDS AND YOU RESEARCHERS LIKE TO LOOK AT ASTEROIDS TO SEE WHAT THE SOLAR SYSTEM LOOKED LIKE WHEN IT WAS FIRST FORMED.

WILL THIS HELP IN THAT RESEARCH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO IF IT IS CONFIRMED THIS IS A FRAGMENT OF THE MOON, THIS WILL BE INTERESTING BECAUSE A MISSION COLLECTING SAMPLES FROM THIS ASTEROID, WE'LL GET A GOOD IDEA OF HOW THE MOON WAS MILLIONS OF YEARS AGO, HOW HAS IT CHANGED FROM WHAT WE SEE NOW AND ALSO JUST TELL US THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE ORIGINS FOR THESE OBJECTS.

>> Ted: HOW BIG IS THIS THING?

>> WELL, MODERATELY BIG, WE THINK.

BETWEEN 40 AND 60 METERS AND WE THINK THE SHAPE IS ELONGATED, LIKE A FOOTBALL.

>> Ted: SO 40 TO 60-METER FOOTBALL, THEN?

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: GOOD ENOUGH TO GET A SAMPLE SIZE.

DANIEL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR INFORMATION WITH US AND BEST OF WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

♪ ♪ >> PRESIDENT BIDEN VOWS TO RESPOND TO A DEADLY DRONE ATTACK ON A U.S. BASE IN JORDAN.

THAT'S COMING UP AT 6:00 ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: MAYO CLINIC ARIZONA PERFORMED WHAT IS IS CALL A ROBOTIC SURGERY FOR PANCREATIC CANCER AND PROMISES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR A DIFFICULT CANCER TO TRITE.

JOINING US NOW IS DR. ZH FONG, THE SURGICAL ONCOLOGIST AT MAYO CLINIC.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: ROBOTIC SURGERY FOR PANCREATIC CANCER AND WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> IT'S A COMPLEX OPERATION THAT WE HISTORICALLY HAVE DONE FOR PANCREATIC CANCER.

WHAT IT ENTAILS IS THAT WE TAKE THE HEAD OF THE PANCREAS OUT ALONG WITH THE STOMACH AND DUODENUM AND WE DO THIS FOR PANCREATIC CANCER, THE HEAD OF THE PANCREAS AND IT'S A COMPLEX CANCER WE COULD DO FOR CANCER.

>> Ted: WITH TIGHT SPACES AND CORNERS?

>> IT ALLOWS US TO PERFORM DELICATE PARTS OF THE PROCEDURE THROUGH AN OPEN INCISION AND THERE'S MORE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

BUT WITH OUR NEW TECHNOLOGY, THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THIS THROUGH A SMALL INCISION AND WITH HIGHER PRECISION.

>> Ted: GALLBLADDER AND BILE DUCT AND A LOT COMES OUT, HUH?

>> BECAUSE THE PANCREAS HEAD IS WHERE A LOT OF OTHER ORGANS APPLY.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE CANCER IN THE HEAD OF THE PANCREAS, IT REMOVES A LOT OF THE OTHER ORGANS.

>> Ted: IS THIS FOR CANCER THAT HASN'T METASTASIZED?

>> ONCE IT'S METASTASIZED, WE CAN NO LONGER DO IT.

SO ONLY 20% OR 30% QUALIFY FOR.

>> Ted: PANCREATIC CANCER, IS THAT THE REASON IT METASTASIZES WHEN YOU'RE NOT AWARE ANYTHING ELSE IS GOING ON?

>> WE HAVEN'T FOUND A GOOD SURVEILLANCE METHOD OR STRATEGY TO DETECT PANCREATIC CANCER ONLY AND ONLY 20% HAVE WHAT HAS NOT SPREAD.

>> Ted: CAN THE PROCEDURE BE USED WITH OTHER DISORDERS INVOLVING THE PANCREAS OR ANY OTHER ORGAN?

>> YES.

TYPICALLY ANY INDICATION WITH FULL COOPERATION WOULD BE A GOOD FOR A PROCEDURE.

SOMETIMES IT COULD BE PRE- MALIGNANT AND IF IT'S INCIDENTAL, WE COULD PERFORM THIS ROBOTICALLY.

>> Ted: AND IT WAS DONE AT THE MAYO CLINIC?

>> WE PERFORMED THE FIRST ONE IN OCTOBER AND WE'VE DONE EIGHT MORE AND MOST PATIENTS ARE DOING WELL SO FAR.

>> Ted: RESULTS SO FAR ARE GOOD?

>> GREAT.

MOST ARE DOING WELL AND TWO PATIENTS WENT HOME THREE DAYS AFTER THE OPERATION AND QUICK RECOVERY AND PART IS SELECTING THE RIGHT PATIENT FOR THE RIGHT OPERATION.

>> Ted: THE ROBOTIC ASPECT AS WE'RE SEEING HERE, BOY, YOU NEED SPECIAL TRAINING FOR THAT, DON'T YOU?

>> I'M BLESSED I DID MY TRAINING IN BOSTON WHERE WE DO THE ROBOTIC OPERATION.

I THINK PART OF BEING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF SURGEONS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF TRAINING, WE'RE TRAINED IN ROBOTIC OPERATIONS AND THIS HAS BEEN INCREASING.

>> Ted: THE UPTICK OF ROBOTIC OPERATIONS IN GENERAL, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND HOW IMPORTANT IN THE TREATMENT?

WE'LL TAKE TO CANCER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU'RE AN ONCOLOGIST AND THIS IS THE SERIOUS STUFF?

HOW IMPORTANT?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE OPERATION WE DO.

IT'S HISTORICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A PERCEPTION THAT'S A BIG OPERATION AND SOMETIMES PATIENTS HAVE THE HESITANCY TO PURSUE TREATMENT BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S A DISFIGURING OPERATION.

WE HOPE TO CHANGE THAT WHERE EVEN A BIG, COMPLEX OPERATION DOESN'T REQUIRE A LONG INCISION.

WE CAN SEE THIS THROUGH DELICATE SMALL HOLES.

>> Ted: THAT MINIMUM INVASION, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> YES.

>> Ted: YOU TOUCHED ON THIS AND I WOULD THINK RECOVERY WOULD BE QUICKER.

>> IT IS A LOT QUICKER AND WE FEEL THE RECOVERY IS QUICKER AND HOSPITAL STAY IS SHORTER AND THE PAIN IS MUCH MORE CONTROLLED.

FOR PATIENTS LIVING LONGER, NOW THAT WE HAVE BETTER THERAPY, THE WOUND COMPLICATION RATES AND THE HERNIA RATES ARE SMALLER.

>> Ted: ARE THE RISKS DIFFERENT WITH THE WHIPPLE SURGERY AND ROBOTIC WHIPPLE SURGERY?

>> THE MAIN PROFILE IS THE SAME.

IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE OPERATION, BUT THE LONG-TERM COMPLICATION RATES ARE LOWER AND WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED AS MANY.

WE BELIEVE THE ONES WITH SMALL INCISIONS ARE LOWER.

>> Ted: SO HERNIA RATES, THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WATCH OUT FOR.

>> BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR NON-CANCER OPERATIONS AND PEOPLE WHO GET THE WHIPPLE OPERATIONS ARE LIVING LONGER.

SO IT'S ONLY AN ISSUE IN PATIENTS THAT LIVE LONGER AND WHEN YOU DO A BIGGER INCISION, THE RISK OF HERNIAS ARE TYPICAL HIGHER IF YOU HAD AN OPEN WHIPPLE.

>> WHEN YOU TALK TO PATIENTS ABOUT THIS OPTION AND THESE ARE PATIENTS THAT ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO MAKE AND THEY NEED HELP, ALL THE HELP TO MAKE THAT DECISION, WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM?

>> IT'S THE SAME OPERATION IN THE SENSE WHERE THE COMPLICATION AND MORTALITY RISKS ARE THE SAME.

BUT THE RECOVERY IS QUICKER.

THERE'S LESS PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION.

YOU GET BACK ON YOUR FEET QUICKER AND BACK TO DAILY ROUTINES QUICKER AND LONG-TIME WOUNDS, AS WELL.

>> Ted: A LOT OF POSITIVES.

DR. ZH FONG, MY GOODNESS, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS BECAUSE IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THE MAYO CLINIC DOING THIS WORK AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.