Breakthrough Da Vinci Xi Robot enters Gold Coast surgery theatres
For the first time, Gold Coast public hospital surgeons are using a robot to do operations on patients. Discover the Da Vinci XI
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Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) is the first public health facility in the city to offer “game-changing” robotic surgery, previously accessible only to private patients.
Known as Da Vinci Xi, the robot has been used in six operations since December, and surgeons say it could have a “dramatic impact” for local patients by cutting the surgical waitlist and improving outcomes.
Surgeons can see in three dimensions when they place their head inside the robot’s console, and use both their hands and feet to control its four arms.
Nicola Burt was the first patient to undergo robotic surgery at GCUH when her weight-loss procedure was completed last year.
Ms Burt said she was grateful for the care she received and endorsed the use of robotic surgery after having a hiatus hernia repair and gastric bypass operation.
“It was amazing,” she said. “I’ve got my quality of life back, which is great. If somebody came to me tomorrow and said we’re going to have surgery with a robot, (I’d say) 100 per cent.”
GCUH surgeon doctor Jason Free said the robot could be used in a wide range of operations including pelvic, bowel, kidney and prostate procedures.
“The precision of the robotic instruments is fantastic. It’s more like operating with your hands inside the patient, rather than standard laparoscopic instruments,” Dr Free said.
“This is a great opportunity for the Gold Coast because the robot that we have here is a dual console system, which means there’s actually two surgeons operating in the same robotic instrument, kind of like a pilot and a co-pilot operating an aeroplane.”
“So it should dramatically increase the threshold for the hospital which means we can do more operations quicker and have more people off the waiting lists.”
Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the robot was being used as part of a 12-month trial.
“The new Da Vinci surgical system is a game-changer for the delivery of healthcare services on the Gold Coast,” Ms Fentiman said.
“This advanced technology means shorter recovery times for patients and enhanced surgical training for our hard working doctors.
“It also means that Gold Coast residents no longer have to travel to Brisbane or Sydney to access world-class care.
“Our Gold Coast health staff are passionate about supporting the health needs of their local community and I want to thank them for their work delivering this technology for the Gold Coast.”
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Originally published as Breakthrough Da Vinci Xi Robot enters Gold Coast surgery theatres
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