Robot assisted surgery set to be introduced

Strath residents referred to Ninewells Hospital for surgery could have their procedure carried out by a state-ofthe-art robot.

The new machinery has arrived at the Dundee hospital to support the delivery of complex surgical procedures for patients with cancer.

The robot can perform minimally invasive surgery in cancer speciality areas, such as colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, urology, gynaecology and ear, nose and throat procedures.

The technology enables access to hard-to-reach areas of the body by mimicking a surgeon’s hand movements, making small incisions into a patient’s body allowing intricate procedures such as tumour and organ removal to be carried out with more precision.

For some patients, the site of a cancer can make it difficult for surgeons to safely operate and using the surgical robot can enable a surgeon to operate on these cancers more easily.

Other benefits for patients of robotically assisted surgery and its minimally invasive approach include reduced hospital-stay and quicker recovery, reduced pain, reduced complications, reduced blood loss and improved patient outcomes.

Consultant Jai Manickavasagam, one of the surgeons who will be using the robot, explained: “Robotic assisted surgery will bring significant benefits for many patients.

“Robotic surgery, particularly if it is carried out in the head and neck areas, will transform care for those patients requiring complex surgery as it is minimally invasive and, importantly, it enhances choices of treatment for patients with head and neck cancers.”

Over the coming months, speciality surgeons and theatre teams will complete a period of intensive training with the robotic surgery service, which is due to go live later this year.