Surgeons explain da Vinci benefits

performed almost 2,000 robotic surgeries to date. He mentions not only the facilities but also the staff expertise as standout features at St Andrew’s.

“We are very fortunate at St Andrew’s to have world class robotic facilities and staff,” says Dr Fuller.

Dr JC Hodge, ENT specialist, was an early adopter of trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS), performing his first da Vinci procedure in 2009. He was mentored by Professor Suren Krishnan at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where together they formed Australia’s first Head & Neck TORS program. “The majority of the UK’s ENT TORS surgeons have been trained here at the RAH and St Andrew’s Hospital,” Dr Hodge says.

"The Da Vinci technology has allowed trans-oral access for surgery that previously required long and complex operations such as jawbone splits. It’s led to the de-escalation of toxic adjuvant treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy for head and neck cancers, as well as shorter hospital admissions and better functional outcomes."

Dr Andrew Fuller, Urologist, began using the da Vinci system in 2010 and has

“The dual console da Vinci Xi system is unique to St Andrew’s, and facilitates teaching of trainee surgeons and collaboration between experienced surgeons in more complex cases.

“The Urological robotic program is well established as one of the busiest in Australia and allows minimally invasive treatment for patients requiring treatment for prostate, renal and bladder cancers.”