The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Kent recently notched an impressive feat. Since then it has completed its inaugural robotic surgeries with great success! The NHS in London has pioneered this groundbreaking procedure since the beginning of this year. Today, patients in east Kent are the beneficiaries of it.
Mandy Lee, a 68-year-old patient with a diagnosis of bowel cancer, received the robotic surgery on a Thursday morning. Consultant colorectal and general surgeon Sudhaker Mangam performed the procedure, during which he removed 35 inches of her bowel. Lee said she was initially fearful about the utilization of robotic technology. Lee said she was intent on eliminating her 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
Her minimally invasive surgery took place using a special new robot that has four arms. Surgeons controlled these robotic arms remotely, giving them unprecedented precision and control throughout the procedure. Lee enjoyed the added advantage of a 3D, holographic view inside her body, which further enriched her surgical experience.
The robotic, minimally invasive procedure is specifically intended to be less painful than traditional invasive surgeries, providing patients with faster recoveries. Lee was back home by Sunday, only a few days after her surgery.
Stanley Russell was the second patient to benefit from this new, minimally invasive surgical technique at QEQM. She admired how the medical team went above and beyond to prepare him by explaining the procedure in depth. Their directness disarmed his worries going into the procedure.
“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
Consultant Sudhaker Mangam placed a great importance on this surgical development within east Kent.
“This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times.” – Sudhaker Mangam
As a result, the robotic surgical system has already shown successful outcomes in many sites throughout Europe. As QEQM expands its capabilities with this technology, local patients can look forward to enhanced surgical options and improved healthcare outcomes.
