South African hospital introduces robot-assisted surgery

Netcare Pretoria East Hospital has introduced the first robot-assisted surgery of its kind using the latest da Vinci Xi surgical system.

This robotic system is the first of its kind installed in the private sector in the country. It is the fourth in the Netcare group to use da Vinci technology for a range of surgical procedures.

The da Vinci Xi system was installed at the hospital in April and the first team of robotic surgical team comprising urologists Johan Venter and Paul Smit, and general surgeon Dr Michael Heyns will use this advanced surgical technology to treat prostate and colorectal cancer.

They will perform pelvic lymphadenectomies as well as surgical procedures for inguinal hernias and other diseases of the colon, pelvic floor and kidneys using the da Vinci Xi surgical system.

Venter, who has been animating robot-assisted surgeries at the city's Netcare Waterfall Hospital since 2015, where the first da Vinci system was installed at Netcare the previous year, said that in appropriate cases the robot-assisted prostatectomy can completely remove localised cancerous tissue while maintaining erectile function and urinary output.

"This fourth-generation version of the robotic system provides even greater control and visibility of the operating field, allowing us to operate with absolute precision," stressed the doctor.

The enhanced 3D image of the robotic system also enables surgeons to see subtle nerves and tissue with far greater clarity and detail than with human vision, as reported by Pretoria News, a partner of TV BRICS.

Paul Smit, who also has extensive experience in performing robotic urological surgeries, explained that the da Vinci system is always operated by trained specialists accredited in robotics.

Thin instruments are inserted into the skin through four small punctures, which is much less invasive than traditional open or laparoscopic surgery.

In addition to Netcare Pretoria East and Netcare Waterfall City in Gauteng, robot-assisted surgery is also offered at Netcare Christiaan Barnard Hospital in Cape Town and Netcare Greenacres Hospital in Gqeberha.

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