Robotic surgery hits 1,000 mark after 10 years

TECHNOLOGY SAVING LIVES AND MONEY

- By ABIGAIL NICHOLSON

A NORTH East hospital is celebrating a decade of delivering robotic surgeries that have been helping people recover faster and feel less pain.

Gynaecological surgeons from the James Cook University Hospital have been at the forefront of helping women access faster, safer and less invasive treatment for complex cancer conditions.

The team have now performed more than 1,000 robotic surgeries since marking their first procedure in 2015.

The da Vinci X and Xi are state-of-the-art robotic-assisted equipment making a vital difference in the lives of women suffering from complex cancer conditions.

Robotic-assisted surgery is an advanced technique where complex gynae cancer surgeries are performed through a keyhole approach.

The adoption of robotic technology means more hospital beds are now available, with the majority of patients being discharged the day after surgery.

Annalisa Perry and Sue Jeffrey, two of the patients who recently underwent major surgeries to remove cancerous tumours, felt nearly nothing and were discharged the next day.