Mandy Lee, a patient with bowel cancer, was recently one of the first patients to receive robotic surgery at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Margate. This revolutionary surgery is a huge step in her treatment journey. She had the procedure done on a Thursday and was back home only three days later, that Sunday. Since the procedure, Lee has said he’s felt better every day.
The robotic surgical procedure, which involves a robotic system with four arms controlled remotely by a surgeon, was first introduced by the National Health Service (NHS) in London earlier this year. It permits greater accuracy in the course of surgical procedure and gives surgeons a 3D view into the affected person’s physique.
Consultant colorectal and general surgeon Sudhaker Mangam, who has since become Lee’s frequent champion, faced surgery to remove part of her bowel. Despite her initial reservations about robotic surgery, Lee insisted she wanted to eradicate cancer.
“It was a bit of a scary thought, I hadn’t even considered the possibility of robotic surgery, but I just wanted the cancer gone and I wasn’t put off.” – Mandy Lee
Stanley Russell, a 68-year-old resident of Herne Bay, followed Lee as the second patient to undergo the same robotic procedure at QEQM. Before Sam’s surgery, the medical team walked her through the entire procedure step by step. They specifically highlighted that this approach would be SIGNIFICANTLY less painful compared to the current invasive surgical alternative.
“The team explained everything really well and said it would be less painful than going through more invasive surgery, so that made sense to me.” – Stanley Russell
This pioneering surgical technique is now being offered to patients in east Kent, making it one of the biggest improvements in surgical expertise for years. Among the advances attributed to the use of robotic surgery, patients can go home with higher levels of precision, outcomes and recovery time.
Surgeons have already noted positive results from robotic procedures performed across Europe, further supporting the decision to implement this technology at QEQM. Local patient access Sudhaker Mangam punctuated how important this development is for local patients.
“This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times.” – Sudhaker Mangam
Half the hospitals in the U.S. are quickly adopting robotic technology for surgical procedures. Lee and Russell’s experiences are the beginning of seeing many more patients benefit from these advancements in medical science. Healthcare facilities are taking a bold step toward innovation that will better serve patients through decreased pain and accelerated recovery.