A da Vinci XI robotic-assisted surgical system costing £2 million has arrived at Conquest Hospital, and will be operational by the beginning of June.
Alys Moris – consultant surgeon, Raj Harshen – consultant surgeon, Michail Klimovskij – consultant general and colorectal surgeon, Ana Vertlugov – surgical assistant with the equipment as it arrived at the hospital
Robotic-assisted surgery uses new equipment to make much smaller cuts and special instruments controlled by professionals to carry out a number of different operations. Surgeons use things like 3D vision and other special instruments on the surgical robot for even greater accuracy during surgery.
These techniques offer some key advantages over conventional surgery and have proved to be less invasive with less blood loss and pain for patients. They are also more consistent and lower risk for a range of hospital procedures.
By using surgical robots, surgeons can offer the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to more patients for a wider range of conditions. This means a shorter stay in hospital, with less pain and quicker recovery after surgery.
Michail Klimovskij, Consultant Surgeon who is leading on this project said: “Robotic surgery is a next level of surgery allowing precise dissection in difficult access areas, for example in the pelvis. Miniature robotic instruments are introduced into the body through small incisions and controlled by surgeons at all times to perform specific tasks. The procedures can also often result in less bleeding, reduced infection risk, less post-operative pain and smaller scars”
Walleed Yousef, consultant gynaecologist went on to say: “Our new da Vinci robotic system will be shared between surgeons focusing on colorectal cancer operations and gynaecology. Although this system is widely used elsewhere, we are proud to have the da Vinci robot for colorectal and gynaecology surgery, a first in the region.”
Once the installation process for the robotic system is done and training of all the staff involved is completed, the first surgery using this cutting edge technology, is likely to take place at the end of May – beginning of June.