Fiona Stanley Hospital will be the first public hospital in Western Australia to offer robotic urological surgery after taking delivery of a da Vinci surgical system.
Dr Matt Brown, Urological Surgeon, Janet Zagari Executive Director Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital (FSFHG) and Professor Dickon Hayne FSFHG Head of Urology next to the new da Vinci surgical system
The da Vinci system will allow suitable public patients requiring urological procedures to receive robotic-assisted prostate and kidney surgery.
The system is the first of its kind in a WA public hospital and makes FSH one of only seven public hospitals in Australia with this robotic surgical capability.
Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group Head of Urology, Professor Dickon Hayne, said the system will provide benefits to patients suitable for this surgery.
“The da Vinci system provides the surgeon with 3D vision, magnification capabilities and enhanced dexterity to manipulate and dissect areas where access is challenging or limited,” Professor Hayne said.
“Compared to traditional techniques, the da Vinci system delivers a better patient experience through faster recovery, reduced length of stay in hospital and faster return to normal activities.
“It is also expected to deliver greater efficiencies due to improved surgical outcomes, and a lower likelihood of subsequent treatments.”
FSH has also launched a new surgical robotics program to train the next generation of surgeons using robotics.
The urology department and project team is currently commissioning the da Vinci system and training staff ahead of the first robotic surgery, which is expected in October this year.
Executive Director Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group, Janet Zagari, said the arrival of the robot is due to a lot of tireless work behind the scenes.
“Securing a da Vinci system for our hospital has taken years of planning and a lot of hard work by many people – and I know all of those people are delighted to see this project become a reality.”