Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has had access to its surgical robotic system for two years completing 600 procedures.
The Trust conducted the first robotic operation using the DaVinci Xi robotic system on the 3rd May 2017 has since then has been hugely successful in improving outcomes for cancer patients throughout Lancashire and south Cumbria, and leading to quicker recovery times.
Those surgeries throughout the two years include the first upper gastrointestinal tract robotic surgery in the North West, a combined robotic procedure to treat both bowel and womb cancer in the same patient, and the first robotic patient recruited into an international clinical trial into rectal cancer.
The robot provides a three dimensional view and the ‘wristed’ instruments allow greater control and care of tissues, making it much easier for surgeons to access parts of the body that are difficult to reach, and undertake complex procedures using keyhole incisions rather than open surgery, reducing the risk of complications and enabling a speedier recovery.
Pierre Martin-Hirsch, Consultant Gynaecological Cancer Surgeon at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “We are delighted to have had access to the surgical robot for the last two years. We are truly grateful to the Rosemere Cancer Foundation and its supporters for fundraising to make this type of cutting edge technology available to patients in Lancashire.”
“The advanced capabilities of the surgical robot have enabled us to offer surgery to groups of patients who would otherwise not be suitable for this type of surgery; with significant reductions in patient recovery times and complications. We have been able to achieve so much with this robot and I’m sure we will continue to grow in success.”
