The Cancer Centre at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is just one of three in the country, and the only one in the North West, to be able to provide treatment for upper gastrointestinal cancer using this new robot.
The robotic presentation evening will include presentations by urology, colorectal and gynaecology consultants who will describe the procedures and benefits of robotic surgery. This will be followed by a question and answer session with our consultants.
The evening is set to be an educational and informative event which will allow people to understand the future of robotic surgery. We are also pleased to have some of our patients who have undergone robotic surgery with us. And the robot itself will be present on the day so attendees can take a look at the very latest cancer surgery technology.
The new robot is already improving outcomes for cancer patients throughout Lancashire and south Cumbria, and leading to quicker recovery. The robot can bend and rotate 360 degrees, making it much easier for our surgeons to access parts of the body that are difficult to reach, and undertake complex procedures using keyhole incisions rather than open surgery, reducing the risk of complications and enabling a speedier recovery.
One of the consultants who will be speaking on the day is Ioannis Peristerakis, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Ioannis said: “We are extremely grateful to the Rosemere Cancer Foundation for raising funds to help us purchase the most advanced surgical robot to our hospital. Patients from throughout the region now have the opportunity to receive surgical treatments of the highest quality, using cutting edge technologies. We are delighted with the initial outcomes of robotic bowel surgery, showing significant improvement in the speed of recovery.”
Bachar Zelhof, Consultant in Urology said: “The robot allows the surgeon to have a three-dimensional view of the surgical field with greatly increased magnification using fine articulating instruments. Thanks to these robotic features, many kidney cancer cases that were previously being done as a complete kidney resection are now performed as a partial resection with kidney preservation. This allows not only complete removal of cancer but also maintaining kidney functions which helps patients to return to their daily lives with a minimum of inconvenience, despite having undergone major surgery.”
Pierre Martin-Hirsch, Consultant Gynaecological Cancer Surgeon said: “Robotic surgery brings gold standard surgery to the cancer centre and it’s already having a positive impact on our gynaecology patients.”
Tarek Salem Hany, Consultant in General Surgery said: “We are already seeing marked reduction in hospital stay thanks to the precision provided by the robot technology. It is yet another piece of absolute commitment by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals in providing the highest quality of care to patients in Lancashire and North Cumbria.”
Arnab Bhowmick, Consultant in General Surgery said: “Most people associate cancer treatment with radiotherapy and drug therapy; however surgery is the definitive treatment for the majority of patients. As the cancer centre for Lancashire and south Cumbria, it’s vital that we can offer patients the latest techniques and treatment. The robot allows us to provide lifesaving treatment for patients who may not be suitable for more traditional surgery. It’s less invasive, so risk is reduced and recovery is quicker. And it’s amazingly precise so it’s highly effective. The entire surgical team has embraced this technology and everyone is keen to be trained so they can provide the best option possible for their patients."