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Patients in regional areas could be the big winners after Southern Hemisphere-first robotic assisted surgeries at Sydney Adventist Hospital.
The first procedure used the new da Vinci 5 surgical system to treat a patient with a long history of recurrent diverticular disease, a condition that significantly impacts quality of life.
It was performed at New South Wales' largest private hospital – also known as the San – by its Head of Colorectal Robotic Surgery, Associate Professor Stephen Pillinger.
It was soon followed by the Southern Hemisphere's first heart surgery case using the same system, performed by the San's Director of Robotic and Minimally-Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, Professor Tristan Yan.
A key feature of the technology is its telepresence capability, meaning surgeons can observe procedures remotely in real-time.
This opens the door for greater collaboration, mentoring and education, including the ability for surgeons in metropolitan hospitals to support and train colleagues in Australia's regional and remote areas without needing to be physically present.
The da Vinci 5 console lets surgeons monitor procedures remotely in real-time
A/Prof Pillinger said the technology represented a major step forward for both surgeons and patients across Australia.
"It's not only about improving individual patient outcomes but creating opportunities for continuous learning," he said.
"The ability to review cases, benchmark performance and collaborate in real time will help lift standards across the board.
"Importantly, it also supports greater equity of access to healthcare, ensuring patients can benefit from world-class expertise regardless of where they live."
A/Prof Pillinger said the technology would also enable telesurgery – the ability to operate with a surgeon in one place and a patient in another.
"In a country as big as ours, this will allow patients to not only have access to the latest technology, but be able to do so near home, friends and family," he added.
Prof Yan said the technology represented a significant advancement in robotic-assisted surgery, particularly for complex procedures.
"The da Vinci 5 comes with software capabilities up to 10,000 times more powerful than previous versions, delivering enhanced precision, streamlined workflow, improved ergonomics and reduced surgery times, all of which are critical in complex cardiothoracic surgery," he said.
Adventist HealthCare CEO Brett Goods said the milestone reinforced the San's position as a leader in robotic surgery and clinical innovation, having completed more than 1,000 procedures using da Vinci systems in 2025.
"We are uniquely placed to support the introduction of this technology, with the highest number of robotic surgery proctors in the country," Mr Goods said.
"Combined with the da Vinci 5's strong focus on training, data and continuous improvement, this creates a powerful opportunity to further strengthen education, mentoring and surgical excellence across our network.
"Its versatility across multiple specialties also allows us to expand the use of advanced robotic techniques, supporting broader access to minimally-invasive surgery for more types of patients.
"We are proud to bring this technology to the San, helping to ensure we remain leaders in this space and can continue to provide the highest quality technology for our clinicians, patients and the wider community."
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