At home, the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in East Kent has made a clear and courageous advance into med tech. They recently celebrated their initial success with their first robotic surgeries! The procedures were led by consultant colorectal and general surgeon Sudhaker Mangam, using an advanced four-arm robotic system. Operated remotely by Mangam, this system provided him with courtesy of the best three-dimensional as well as visualization of the area to be operated on.
This innovative robotic surgical system has arrived to revolutionize patient care. Its purpose is to improve the patient experience – providing faster results and substantially reducing recovery time. The NHS launched the robot’s inaugural London mission in 2023. It provides superior accuracy in all procedures, which is even more critical when dealing with high-risk or intricate cases such as those performed for cancer care.
Mandy Lee was the first patient to have the robotic procedure at QEQM. She underwent surgery to remove significant sections of her bowel after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. She said at first, she had her reservations but was comforted by the medical staff who told her of the advantages of robotic surgery.
“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
Though still feeling pain from surgery, Parson’s friend fingertip-rolled in Lee. By Sunday, she was discharged home and expressed that she truly feels better every day. She valued the team’s detailed explanation of the surgery, and how it differed from more invasive techniques, along with its benefits.
Stanley Russell, the second patient to be operated on using a da Vinci at QEQM, expressed similar thoughts. He praised the team for their effectiveness in communicating the benefits of the surgery. In particular, they emphasized how it decreases pain in comparison to more invasive alternatives.
“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
Sudhaker Mangam, chief officer of the East Kent Hospitals, said this development was an important step forward 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.” – Sudhaker Mangam
As hospitals continue to explore innovative surgical techniques, the use of robotic systems represents a promising future for patient care. This new milestone at QEQM continues to demonstrate the hospital’s commitment towards advanced medical technologies. Finally, it underscores the need for improved nonpartisan data to support more equitable surgical outcomes for all patients battling multifaceted health tests.