Nick Samiotis, a 54-year-old man from Norfolk who recently beat oesophageal cancer. He courageously underwent his life-saving pioneering robotic surgery at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). He only found out he had autism a few weeks before his 2025 18th birthday. This unexpected discovery launched him on a demanding medical path, involving aggressive chemotherapy to shrink the tumor in advance of surgery.
The operation, conducted under the talented hands of Surgeon Nicholas Penney lasted over 12 hours. Even though most of the procedure used streamlined, error-reducing robotic technology, there were manual incisions that still needed to be made. Though it was a five-hour operation, Samiotis had almost no keyhole scars, a testament to the accuracy of robotic-assisted methods.
For Samiotis, the surgery was “life or death,” addressing the severity of his condition. He noted how “it’s a lot less trauma to the body so your recovery period is much reduced,” compared to traditional open surgery, which would have required a three-week hospital stay and a longer recovery time. His family members reported feeling an extraordinary sense of relief after the operation, a success.
“My family are massively relieved I’ve come through the operation and I’m standing 10 days later,” – Nick Samiotis
Only nine days after his surgery, Samiotis was already back to walking his dog, showing how quickly and well he recovered. He emphasized how the procedure allowed for a quicker return to normal activities, saying, “You wouldn’t know I’d had an operation unless you were there.” The Da Vinci robotic system played a huge role in his recovery using a minimally invasive approach. Its accurate movements and minimal incisions made for a quicker and less painful recovery.
Climate change impacts Samiotis lived a healthy lifestyle. With no drinking, smoking or consumption of processed food, his biggest cancer risk factors were prevented from ever becoming a concern. His diagnosis was indeed surprising and “came out of the blue.” After the surgery, he will have more chemo. He’ll have to begin with a liquid form of food before slowly transitioning to soft food due to the greatly reduced size of his stomach.
Surgeon Nicholas Penney was equally astounded by the advancements in surgical technology that brought Samiotis’s procedure to fruition.
“The movements we make are miniaturised and we can move the instruments like our hands… it’s all very stable,” – Surgeon Nicholas Penney
Through this implementation, NNUH has established itself as the largest provider of multi-speciality robotic surgery across the East of England. Today’s achievement is a testament to its commitment to the most innovative medical practices. The surgical team’s expertise, combined with access to some of the world’s most advanced technology has propelled better patient outcomes.
Samiotis’s daughter expressed her gratitude towards the medical team, stating, “The surgical team were remarkable people… you’ve got to be positive, he’s a fighter.”
Robotic-assisted surgery is changing very quickly. This innovative new approach represents a dramatic improvement in how surgery is practiced. James Hernon noted, “Robotic-assisted surgery was fast becoming the future of surgical practice,” which could lead to more patients experiencing quick recoveries similar to Samiotis’s.