A FUTURISTIC new staff member is being welcomed to hospitals in south Warwickshire.
The ‘Da Vinci X’ Surgical Robot is the latest recruit at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust. This cutting-edge technology marks a significant advancement in the provision of specialist surgical care for the people in the area.
The addition of the robot will assist specialities such as colorectal, upper GI, general surgery, gynaecology and urology.
By utilising robotic-assisted surgery, this innovative approach will offer patients a minimally invasive alternative, resulting in shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times and an earlier return to their normal daily activities.
This new innovation will aim to benefit hundreds of patients a year at SWFT.
The robot has two main components, the ‘robot’ itself which is called the ‘Patient Cart’, and the ‘Surgeon Console’. The ‘Patient Cart’ is attached to surgical ports placed into the abdomen by the surgeon, and then controlled via fibre-optic cabling and the ‘Surgeon Console’. The console translates all of the hand movements the surgeon makes into more steady, finer movements by the robot within the patient.
Tony Cave, who following a cancer diagnosis was the first patient to undergo surgery using the ‘Da Vinci X’ at SWFT, said: “I cannot speak more highly of the service and care I have received. It is beyond exceptional.
“I am now four weeks post-surgery. I feel stronger and healthier each day and, notwithstanding the nature and reason for the operation, I am immensely impressed and reassured that the success and my recovery has been accelerated by the robotic procedure, something I am privileged to have been selected for.
“In terms of physical appearance, the impact of any scars has been almost removed with the precision of the surgery method. This takes nothing away from the skill and personnel care and attention that I have received from the team, to whom I owe the start of my new life and am truly humble and grateful for.”
Henry Ferguson, SWFT colorectal consultant, added: “I am proud to have been given the opportunity to train as the first ‘Da Vinci X’ Robotic Surgeon at SWFT. Having performed a number of robotic operations already, my patients have benefitted first hand from this exciting technological innovation, enabling them to recover swiftly and achieve excellent results from their bowel cancer surgery.
“I am looking forward to helping further surgical teams integrate robotic surgery into their practice in the departments of general surgery, gynaecology and urology, so that the robotic programme can benefit as many patients as possible across south Warwickshire.”
