An innovative technological advance has revolutionized the way surgical operations are performed in East Kent. Patients at the Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM) can now benefit from lifesaving surgeries performed with breakthrough robotic technology. Last Thursday—in early October—Mandy Lee, 68, created history. She was the first patient to have her bowel partially removed with this new approach. After the surgery, she flew back home on Sunday and said she’s feeling better each day.
When Lee was diagnosed with bowel cancer, he was initially wary about receiving robotic surgery. She was comforted by the medical staff’s assurances that the robot had been successfully used in other European hospitals.
“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 procedure, which was first introduced by the NHS in London earlier this year, utilizes a robot with four arms that are controlled remotely by the surgeon. This allows for greater precision during surgery. Consultant colorectal and general surgeon, Sudhaker Mangam, who led Lee’s operation, said the importance of this breakthrough should not be underestimated.
“This marks a major advancement in surgical capability for east Kent patients, enabling greater precision, improved outcomes, and faster recovery times.” – Sudhaker Mangam
He’s recovering well from surgery, boisterously singing along to Michael Jackson. Not long afterwards, Herne Bay resident Stanley Russell became the second patient to benefit from robotic surgery at QEQM. Russell emphasized his appreciation for the medical team’s thorough explanations about the procedure and its benefits over more invasive approaches.
“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
With the more minimally invasive procedure of robotic surgery, patients enjoy immediate recovery benefits. During surgery, surgeons operate using a 3D view of the patient’s anatomy. This powerful visualization gives them far greater detail than typical surgical methods allow.
With positive outcomes reported by both Mandy Lee and Stanley Russell, this technological advancement is poised to transform patient care and surgical practices in East Kent.