Gynaecology patients benefit from new robotic assisted surgical device

As a result, the system has replaced large incision abdominal surgeries (open surgery), which is traditionally used for hysterectomies, with small incisions. Benefits for patients include:

• less pain
• go home sooner
• less chance of needing follow-up surgery or experiencing a complication, such as a postoperative infection
• reduced mortality rates
• less need for blood transfusions compared to open or laparoscopic surgery.

Pictured: Some of the Medway Robotic Surgery Team

Sue Evans was the first gynaecology patient to undergo RAS using Hugo on 13 June.

The 45-year-old mum of four from Rainham, who underwent a full hysterectomy, said: “I’d had terrible periods since having my second child in 2011 and I’d tried lots of different contraceptive pills, and even the coil, but nothing helped. Then in 2023 I started hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which helped with my menopause symptoms but not my periods which were getting worse. An ultrasound carried out at the start of 2024 showed issues so I asked for a hysterectomy.

“I wasn’t worried about a robot being used to do the surgery because the surgeon explained everything to me. To be honest I just wanted the operation as I was desperate.

“I was sent home the following evening. The only pain relief I took was right after the operation and the next day, and the only discomfort I had was caused by the gas to inflate my stomach for surgery and some stomach cramps a few days afterwards.

“I was expecting to be bedbound and in lots of pain and not able to move properly for weeks but that wasn’t the case. Eleven days after the op I was ironing, carrying out normal housework duties, doing the school runs and my usual long walks. By 8 July I was driving and the following week I was back at work.

“I’m really pleased with the results and my recovery. I highly recommend robotic surgery as the pain was minimal and it was a very, very quick recovery. I even emailed the team expressing my thanks to them and to Victory Ward for the care I received.”

We first offered RAS to urology patients back in 2017 when we adopted the da Vinci device followed by colorectal patients in 2018. Thanks to Hugo we have been able to extend the offering to gynaecology patients.

As Hugo is also approved for urology and colorectal procedures it means we can also treat more patients under these specialities too. As of the end of September 29 colorectal and 32 urology patients have benefited from RAS with Hugo.

Professor Matin Sheriff, Consultant Urological Surgeon, and Lead Robotic Surgeon, said: “The reasons I went into medicine many years ago was to make sure every life matters, and lives have been improved and saved thanks to robotic surgery being introduced to the Trust.

“Our surgical and operational team have fully embraced the technology and as a result we have implemented a safe and effective programme which has seen patient outcomes improve and the programme develop year-on-year.”