The London Clinic plans to build a centre of excellence in robotics in London’s Harley Street following the successful deployment of a surgical robot.
The independent charitable hospital revealed it has now completed 10 successful colorectal cases using the da Vinci Xi surgical system since its instalment in November 2020.
The Xi model is the latest iteration of the da Vinci series, providing surgeons with an advanced set of instruments as well as an “intelligent” patient table, to use in performing robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery with the surgeon guiding the robot remotely using a nearby console.
Speaking about the success of the recent procedures, Manish Chand, a consultant colorectal surgeon and professor of surgery based at The London Clinic, said: “For a number of reasons, the uptake of robotic surgery in certain fields has been slow within the private sector. Often, the robots have been limited to the field of urology; or there has been a lack of resources and training to perform robotic surgery.
“However, there are a great many benefits to robotic surgery, which we are keen on sharing with our patients.
“Patients should know that there is often an alternative in robotics and that it may be a better choice than traditional open forms of surgery, particularly for more complex procedures.”
Chand said patients had found robotic surgery to be satisfying and comfortable with little post-operative pain and had been able to go home quickly and safely when compared to other forms of surgery.
And the London Clinic added that it will expand its robotic offering into other fields of medicine.
Professor Prokar Dasgupta, a urology consultant and The London Clinic’s robotics and technology lead, added: “We have already established a world-leading programme in urology at The London Clinic, and I am thrilled that we are now extending tangibly into colorectal, the second biggest cancer.
“This is important progress, both for clinicians and their patients. Our aim is to continue building a centre of excellence in robotics, with the most advanced equipment that is available, in London’s leading medical district.”