In a significant development for medical technology in East Kent, the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) successfully performed its first robotic surgeries this past Thursday. Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon Sudhakar Mangam performed the initially transforming procedure, bringing cutting-edge, robotic-assisted surgery to the area. This exciting technology had already been used by the NHS in London earlier this year.
Mandy Lee, a bowel cancer patient who had an operation to remove part of her bowel. She was admittedly intimidated by the thought of robotic surgery. The surgeon’s description of how it has been used successfully all over Europe was enough to assuage her fears. Lee went home only three days after her Sunday surgery. She told us that she’s getting stronger and feeling better every day.
“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
The robotic system, called the da Vinci Surgical System, features four mechanical arms that the surgeon must control remotely. This arrangement provides for an increased level of accuracy while conducting operations. The technology allows surgeons to see a 3D inside view of the patient’s body. This improvement greatly increases their capacity to address multi-layered anatomical forms.
Stanley Russell, 68, of Herne Bay, was the second patient to have a robotic procedure at QEQM. He was a few weeks behind Lee. His surgical team quickly went over the details of the procedure, making sure to note how much less invasive it would be compared to traditional 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
Dr. Mangam concluded by sharing how impactful this new technology has been for their local patients. He underscored that it improves East Kent’s surgical capacity. This exciting innovation will deliver better results and faster recovery times to patients.
“This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times.” – Sudhaker Mangam
With such successful surgeries, QEQM stands out, not only in the region but in the country at the forefront of surgical innovation. Both patients thanked their caregivers and shared hope for their continued health in the future.