News

Robotic Surgery now available on Sunshine Coast

Apr 07, 2017

Men suffering from prostate cancer are now able to access the most advanced treatment available at the Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital at Birtinya.

Previously only available in Brisbane, the da Vinci® Xi™ Surgical Robot System at Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital allows minimally invasive surgical procedures to be conducted at the hospital in a range of areas such as urology, gynaecology, thoracic, cardiac and general surgery.

Hospital CEO Oliver Steele said he is delighted that the da Vinci Xi Surgical System allows minimally invasive surgery to be available to patients and adds to the hospitals existing capabilities in Urological services including green light laser and ESWL.

In particular, the Robot is key to expanding urological services at the hospital with urologists welcoming the availability of the technology for prostate cancer patients who previously had to travel to Brisbane for this surgery.

“This is the next frontier for men’s health on the Sunshine Coast,” he said. “We’ve invested $3.5M into this robotic system.”

Several Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital Urologists have already been successfully trained in performing the robotic surgery for prostate cancer.

“The da Vinci prostatectomy is innovative technology that offers extraordinary benefits to patients and has revolutionised the treatment for prostate cancer,” said Sunshine Coast Urologist Dr Stuart Collins.

“The da Vinci Surgical Robot System enables urologists to operate in the difficult to get to lower pelvis through very small incisions with unmatched precision. It is very effective and the least invasive surgical approach to prostate cancer treatment,” Dr Collins said.

In the USA, over two thirds of all radical prostatectomies are currently performed using this technology where the robot replicates the surgeon’s hand movements. It makes for an intuitive approach with a high level of precision, allowing surgeons to perform this complex procedure using keyhole surgery, needing an incision of less than 1cm compared to an incision of up to 25cm for a traditional radical prostatectomy.

“Benefits to patients include less pain, shorter stay in hospital, and less risk of infection,” Dr Collins said.

“For me as a surgeon, the superior visualisation coupled with the integration of advanced wristed instruments allow for far greater dexterity, which translates into greater precision and less operator fatigue. Most importantly the robotic procedure can be performed with equivalent cancer specific outcomes,” he said.

“Robotic surgical platforms have traditionally only been offered in metropolitan areas and I have had to take my patients to Brisbane to afford them this technology. It is fantastic that patients on the Sunshine Coast will soon have the technology available in their own backyard which will make it easier for them and their families in the post-operative period.”