East Kent’s QEQM Hospital has taken a huge step towards offering cutting-edge surgical procedures by completing its first robotic surgeries. This surgical improvement significantly expands options for nearby patients. The operations, which took place on a Thursday, involved two patients diagnosed with bowel cancer: Mandy Lee and 68-year-old Stanley Russell from Herne Bay.
Mandy Lee had to have surgery to remove part of her bowel after her ordeal. She was initially apprehensive about the minimally invasive robotic surgery. Initially wary about the new technology, she was encouraged by her medical team, which explained that the technology had already seen success in other European countries. Lee stated, “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.” After having her surgery, she was released from the hospital on Sunday and is said to be improving each day.
Stanley Russell was the second patient treated with the new robotic system. The surgical team at QEQM explained the procedure thoroughly to him, emphasizing the benefits of robotic surgery compared to traditional methods. Russell said, “The staff walked me through the entire process. They promised me that this would be a lot less painful than doing a more invasive surgery, and that made sense.”
Surgeon Sudhaker Mangam controls the robotic procedure from QEQM, with the ability to perform the highly technical surgery miles away. His clinical practice is focused on colorectal and general surgery. This highly sophisticated operating robot features four movable arms to execute more precision in the operating room. Mangam highlighted the importance of this new technology for patients in East Kent: “This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times.”
The installation of robotic surgery at QEQM comes months after their introduction by the NHS in London for the first time earlier this year. The positive outcomes seen in Europe have encouraged hospitals like QEQM to adopt this innovative approach, promising enhanced care for patients facing complex surgical procedures.
Lee and Russell are doing great, fully healed from their surgeries. The effective application of robotic surgery at QEQM introduces a hopeful future for patients across the region requiring comparable interventions.