University Hospital Martin Launches Slovakia’s First Robotic Chest Surgery Program
University Hospital Martin has made a significant leap in medical innovation by becoming the first hospital in Slovakia to incorporate robotic surgery into thoracic procedures.
Utilizing the state-of-the-art Da Vinci Xi robotic system, the hospital's surgeons are now performing highly precise and advanced chest surgeries.
Assoc. Prof. Anton Dzian, PhD., a thoracic surgeon at University Hospital Martin and the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Martin, praised the system’s capabilities. "This minimally invasive approach requires training, but the benefits are immense. The robotics provide the surgeon with an excellent 3D HD view of the operative field, magnified several times, offering a wealth of detail. Robotic instruments allow for precise movements that mimic the human hand," he explained.
Dzian emphasized that robotics doesn't replace surgeons but enhances their work by providing a detailed, almost microscopic view of the operative field. The hospital has already successfully performed wedge resections of lung tissue, removing parts of the peripheral lung parenchyma with metastatic tumors, and mediastinal cyst removals as its initial robotic chest surgeries.
These were followed by more complex procedures such as lobectomies and segmentectomies, utilizing the robotic platform’s fluorescence imaging capabilities to view tissue in a new light.
The pioneering chest surgeries at University Hospital Martin's Robotic Surgery Center were supervised by proctor and experienced robotic surgeon, MUDr. Ján Kolařík from Prague's Motol Hospital.
Kolařík highlighted the importance of mastering the robot's control, as working with the system requires more intricate preparation than traditional surgery. "We started with e-learning and observing operations at the robotic center. The surgeons then moved on to a simulator to gain manual dexterity, try out the functions of switching between different tools and arms, as well as managing the camera and energy technologies used to stop bleeding," he detailed.
Kolařík revealed that training continues with tissue model operations at the training center, allowing the surgeon and the operating team to practice initial and more extensive chest procedures. The proctoring for thoracic surgery at University Hospital Martin's Robotic Center took place in February.
The Da Vinci Xi robotic system is available to University Hospital Martin through a collaboration with the Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Martin, funded by European Structural and Investment Funds. Both the hospital and the faculty aim to use research infrastructure for scientific activities, including new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in education and healthcare.
Thanks to the outstanding partnership between the two institutions, patients at the University Hospital Martin now have access to state-of-the-art robotic surgery, currently in use.