Derriford team marks 200 robotic gynae ops

A GYNAECOLOGICAL surgical team at Derriford Hospital has reached the milestone of carrying out 200 robotic gynaecological surgeries.

DaVinci robotic surgery has been introduced into the gynaecology department over the last two years, and has proved to have many benefits in terms of patient care and surgical capability, as well as time and cost benefits for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP).

Earlier this year, the surgical team carried out 12 hysterectomies over one weekend of intensive surgery, using a robotic approach.

Tim Hookway, Consultant Gynaecologist at UHP, who led the surgical team, said: “Since the introduction of the robotic approach to surgery we have noted significant advantages, predominantly in hysterectomies, but also many other gynaecological procedures.

“Robotic surgery offers a number of benefits including better visualisation, tissue handling and less pain following surgery. The surgeon is offered a magnified three-dimensional view of the operative field, with articulated instruments that finely mimic the movements of the human hand. Our DaVinci robot, the Xi, allows us to perform more complex surgery through a minimal access route, but also enables a more efficient use of theatre time, which is a very expensive resource.”