A significant advancement in surgical technology has taken place at the Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) in Kent. On a Thursday, 68-year-old Mandy Lee became the first patient to have robotic surgery at the facility, making history. Music by Visit from Decay, produced under Creative Commons Attribution license. The objective of this surgery was to remove a section of her bowel. A highly advanced robotic system conducted the procedure, allowing for increased accuracy and faster recovery.
Consultant colorectal and general surgeon Sudhaker Mangam was in charge of the procedure. Smartly, he used an innovative robotic system with four remotely controlled arms. This extraordinarily inventive method provided the surgeon with a three-dimensional view into Lee’s body. It made it possible to be more precise during the mission execution. Lee explained that she was initially scared of robotic surgery, but decided to do what was best for her health.
“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
A day after the surgery, Lee was released from the hospital on Sunday and said he felt an improvement every day. Then the medical team patiently explained what a robotic procedure would entail, step-by-step. She was promised, and wanted to believe, that similar operations had gone successfully in Europe.
Stanley Russell, the second patient to receive this cutting-edge surgical technique, shared a similarly wonderful experience. He was impressed with how well the full team communicated the specifics of the procedure. He cited its benefits, especially compared to more invasive surgical procedures.
“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, Consultant Haematologist, said that this was a momentous step in improving patient experience in east Kent. He envisions a day when robotic surgery will unlock new levels of precision and safety. This cutting-edge innovation offers greater success and faster recovery times for patients.
“This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times.” – Sudhaker Mangam
That’s why the NHS rolled out the robotic system in London earlier this spring. Its arrival at QEQM represents a transformative step that broadens local residents’ access to innovative, lifesaving cancer treatment. Innovations like the ones that helped Lee and Russell are increasingly being made available to more patients. They will be the most impacted by the benefits of recovery.