Gynaecological surgical team hits 100th robotic hysterectomy milestone
A gynaecological surgical team at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has successfully completed over 100 robotic-assisted hysterectomies.
Robotic-assisted surgery enables surgeons to make fewer and less invasive incisions, reducing pain, scarring, postoperative complications and shortening recovery time.
It works via a multi-arm robotic surgical system, which is controlled by the surgeon through wristed instruments, offering greater precision than the human hand can do alone.
The team passed the 100th-milestone on June 4, performing two hysterectomies on the same day.
100th patient Naomi Gibson, 33, from Mexborough, has suffered with debilitating endometriosis since her mid-teens.
Speaking after the operation she said: “The recovery has been amazing. Endometriosis has severely interfered with my life and affected my self-esteem. I’m now planning on doing fun things with my children. I have more energy and I'm not having to spend my entire day in bed with the pain and bleeding and having to worry about extra pads and dressings. I want to enjoy life.
"My five tiny scars are extremely neat, the incisions are so symmetrical and they are healing nicely. The team have been fantastic. I can’t thank everyone enough.”
Mr Karim Abdallah, Consultant Gynaecologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are immensely proud to have reached this surgical milestone. Many of our patients have been able to return home on the same day as their surgery, improving convenience and supporting patients to recover in their own homes whilst also freeing up hospital beds for the benefit of other patients.
“Our focus now is on further expansion, including training more senior and junior doctors in robotic surgery so that we can offer this advanced treatment to even more patients."
The Royal Hallamshire Hospital’s da Vinci X surgical robot was purchased following a major donation to Sheffield Hospital Charity in 2019.