Robot assisted surgery aiding recovery time

A specialist team now carries out all of the robotic surgery cases at the trust

Patients are recovering quicker and receiving improved care, thanks to robotic assisted surgery, a hospital trust has said.

More than 200 patients at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) have had the surgery, which uses a system called Da Vinci XI, since June 2023.

Surgeons use controls to manipulate instruments that offer greater precision and dexterity than standard keyhole operations, while the system also offers a 3D view of the patient's body.

At SaTH, it is used in the treatment of reproductive, urinary, and bowel diseases.

The trust said about 80% of patients who had a robotic hysterectomy went home the same day, and 90% within 24 hours.

"We operate the robotic system from a surgeon console which uses our hand movements to control instruments on a separate device connected to the patient," said Adam Farquharson who performs the surgery at the trust.

"These instruments provide a very controlled action that enhances the dexterity of a human hand but with greater precision.

"The system also offers high-definition 3D views of the surgical area, which the entire operating theatre can see."