The Mater Private Hospital in Dublin has performed the highest number of robotic-assisted surgeries in Ireland, it has announced.

According to the hospital, almost 2,000 robotic-assisted surgeries have been completed since it began using a da Vinci robot just over seven years ago.

Over 1,600 of these procedures have been prostatectomies used to treat prostate cancer patients. A prostatectomy refers to the surgical removal of part of all of the prostate gland.

The hospital noted that improved outcomes associated with robotic-assisted prostatectomies include less incontinence and less erectile dysfunction, which can be common issues after this type of surgery.

Over 150 robotic-assisted hysterectomies have also been performed in the last four years. While such procedures are considered major surgery and include a long recovery time, significant blood loss and scarring, robotic-assisted hysterectomies are minimally invasive. This results in less scarring, less blood loss, less post-operative pain and a shorter stay in hospital.

Speaking about the use of robotics, consultant urologist, Dr Kiaran O'Malley, who has performed over 1,000 robotic-assisted prostatectomies, explained that this system gives surgeons ‘a magnified, three-dimensional view of the area being operated on, allowing incredible precision while also maintaining the most minimally invasive type of surgery available'.

"The results for our patients are less pain, less time spent in hospital, less scarring and quicker recovery times, which ultimately ensures improved clinical outcomes. Patients are increasingly opting for robotics as a surgical option because of the advantages that hi-tech, minimally invasive 3D surgery and intuitive movement provide, including more meticulous dissection and improved quality of life post-op," he commented.

According to consultant gynaecologist, Mr William Boyd, robotic-assisted surgery ‘has proven very effective during complex surgeries, both in benign diseases such as endometriosis, as well as in malignant diseases, in particular during the treatment of endometrial and cervical cancers'.

"Over the past four years, our patients have benefitted from robotic-assisted surgeries that have seen reduced scarring and pain, resulting in a faster return to a normal lifestyle. For the surgeon, robotic assistance allows us to perform these surgeries using minimally invasive techniques and the robot's tireless arms are extremely valuable during complex procedures, which can last four to five hours, thus reducing surgeon fatigue," he noted.

Meanwhile, according to consultant colorectal surgeon, Mr Conor Shields, colorectal robotic surgery will grow in appeal to patients as they realise that the operation requires ‘less fluid replacement, less pain relief, no blood transfusion and leaves the patient feeling considerably better the next day compared with other surgical approaches'.

"It's an exciting technique and it makes minimally invasive surgery an option for those who wouldn't otherwise have been able to have it," he pointed out.

Robotic-assisted surgery is currently being used in a number of other disciplines as well, including cardiothoracic surgery, and according to Mr Shields, the next developments planned for the robotic programme include liver resection surgeries and bariatric surgery, which will ‘expand the application of minimal access surgery to the most challenging anatomical disease locations'.