Robot-assisted 'snakes' reduce patients' scar tissue

For the first time in the Southern Hemisphere, complex colorectal surgery has been performed with just one small incision using cutting-edge robotic surgical technology.

Adjunct Professor Satish Warrier, a colorectal surgeon at Epworth Richmond, used the Melbourne hospital's new da Vinci Single-Port (SP) robotic surgical system to treat a patient's benign polyp.

Controlling the system using a console, he removed a small part of the colon through just one incision of around 25 millimetres in diameter.

Prof Warrier said a 3DHD endoscope and articulated surgical instruments entered the body as they do in a traditional multi-port robotic surgery, but once inside they sprung out "like snakes".

"This breakthrough technology means colorectal surgery patients may be left with just one small scar – often hidden in the bellybutton – and may experience a faster recovery," he said.

Prof Warrier travelled to South Korea to train in the new robotic surgical system alongside fellow Epworth colorectal surgeons Dr Toan Pham, Professor Sandy Heriot, and Ian Hastie.

"We will be continuously learning from each other and looking at how we can best deliver this technology for our patients at Epworth," Prof Warrier said.

"There will continue to be a significant role for multi-port robotic-assisted surgery, which continues to allow for precise surgery within the body, but it is about having the opportunity to offer patients a variety of choices and tailoring those choices to their needs."

Epworth HealthCare was the first hospital group in the Asia Pacific region to purchase a surgical robot in 2003.

The first robotic-assisted operation in Australia was performed at Epworth Richmond on a prostate cancer patient.

Prof Warrier, who performs about 200 multi-port robotic-assisted surgery cases annually across Epworth's Richmond and Freemasons sites, said he expected to deliver 20-30 procedures each year with this new technology.

"Epworth is the leading robotics centre of excellence in Australia, not just in terms of the size of the fleet of robotic surgical systems, but also our ability to offer a range of robotic-assisted surgery options for our patients," he said.

Read more: Australian-first robot helps patient recovery times

Read more: New robotic first at Epworth Richmond

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