Surgeon embraces robotic surgery
One consultant who has embraced the arrival of robotic surgery is Hemant Sheth. Hemant is one of four surgeons at Ealing Hospital trained to use the De Vinci robot.
“There's a lot of excitement about it in the hospital at the moment,” said Hemant who has used the robot in 19 procedures since it arrived a month ago.
“It's a big investment but offers minimally invasive surgery so patient recovery times are faster and there is reduced risk of infection.”
Hemant and his colleagues will help train other surgeons with hospital bosses expecting the robot and its sibling at neighbouring Northwick Park to be used in up to 700 procedures by 2027.
“The training is relatively straightforward but the 3D vision and fact that you can rotate the surgical instruments through 360 degrees with the turn of the wrist took a bit of getting used to.
"We'll be focusing on high volume, low complexity cases to reduce the backlog of cases and free up more bed space in the hospital. I really enjoy using it and it is the future.”
The robot also brings benefits for surgeons who often struggle with musculo-skeletal problems from leaning over an operating table for several hours with the robotic surgeon remotely operating the robot at a sit-down console in the theatre.