A huge moment for the future of healthcare in east Kent has come! The very first patients have safely completed proven robotic-assisted surgery at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM). One of the first patients, Mandy Lee, 68, a bowel cancer survivor. The six-hour operation, which took place on a Thursday, was to save her bowel with little damage to it. Remarkably, Lee went home only three days later and has been doing better each day since the intervention.
The robotic surgery was performed by Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon Sudhaker Mangam. The high tech vs. The flashy technology consists of a four armed robot, which the surgeon controls from a console. Such technology and methods used for 3D printing allow for better precision during surgeries, since the surgeon is provided a 3D perspective inside of the patient’s body.
Lee expressed her initial apprehension regarding robotic surgery, stating, “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.”
Mangam assured Lee that the robotic system was proven and a success story in other parts of Europe. This further increased her certainty in the procedure’s effectiveness. He remarked on the significance of this advancement, saying, “This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times.”
Herne Bay’s Stanley Russell soon followed, becoming the second patient to have a robotic procedure at QEQM. He emphasized how clearly the surgical team communicated everything to him. “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,” Russell stated.
In fact, it was earlier this year that the NHS in London first performed the robotic procedure. As its successful implementation at QEQM demonstrates, this exciting new surgical technique can be a real game-changer for local patients. With smart and steadfast leadership, the team at QEQM will no doubt use this cutting-edge technology to further improve patient care and outcomes.
Patients such as Lee and Russell today are reaping the rewards of more minimally invasive surgeries. These cutting-edge techniques offer faster recovery times and less post-operative pain compared to conventional procedures. As more surgeries are performed using this technology, QEQM is positioned to lead the way in robotic-assisted procedures in the region.