A surgeon at Guy’s Hospital has performed the first operation to remove a cancerous prostate with a new surgical robot.
Professor Prokar Dasgupta carried out the surgery on former GP Nasser Jadalizadeh, 78, from Surrey, who had prostate cancer.
Nasser said: “Professor Dasgupta spoke to me in depth so I really had no question about it. I was very excited and chuffed to be the first patient. I had no pain at all after I got home from hospital, just slight discomfort for a few days. I’m currently as good as gold.
“I am back to doing four or five mile walks and when I come home I’m tired but not exhausted. Later this month I’ll be playing golf again.”
During this kind of operation, surgeons control the robot while sitting at an open console in the same room that shows them what’s going on in three dimensions and in high definition. A small camera on the end of one arm gives them a view inside the patient.
Guy’s already has other surgery robots but this robot, called Versius, is already helping surgeons to perform prostate and kidney removal, pyeloplasty reconstruction (to remove a blockage in one of the ureters) and adrenal surgery. It will be used for colorectal and general surgeries in the future. St Thomas’ hospital – part of the same NHS trust as Guy’s will get a second Versius robot.
Prof Dasgupta said: “We have pioneered the use of robotic technology in the UK. Adding Versius to our robotic surgery programme means that even more patients can now benefit from faster recovery times, less time in hospital and reduced risk of infection.
“This is particularly important as the NHS tries to treat as many patients as it can at this busy time.”