As technology spreads across the world, one of the most significant advances has been in the medical sphere, where the fusion of robotics, AI and plain human expertise is bringing about greater surgical precision and quicker patient recovery.
Daniel Surridge, a colorectal surgeon at Netcare’s Milpark Hospital in Joburg, is enthusiastic about such recent developments. “The dividends in patient safety, reduced complications and enhanced surgical outcomes are invaluable,” he says.
Surridge is referring to Netcare’s introduction this year of Da Vinci Xi, a medical robot, to its surgical team at Milpark.
The Da Vinci Xi robotics system has been described as “the next frontier” for minimally invasive surgery. It enables surgeons to operate, even remotely, through a few incisions by using a high-resolution 3D console that lets them see anatomical structures in natural colours.
The robot is built by Intuitive Surgical, a US corporation listed on the Nasdaq and the S&P 500. The Da Vinci is its most famous system and was approved by the US Food & Drug Administration in 1997. The device could not be used for general surgery until 2000, but since then it has been installed in more than 12,000 locations across the world. The one at Milpark is just the latest; the Da Vinci Xi was introduced to South Africa at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town in October 2021 and four months later also set up at Tygerberg Hospital.
Those who have been using the Da Vinci Xi say it’s not just a machine but a significant leap in surgical capabilities. Surridge says it provides unheard-of precision, dexterity and control during intricate surgical procedures. What it isn’t is autonomous; it serves as an extension of the surgeon’s hands.
Surridge, who specialises in minimally invasive techniques, says it lessens blood loss and reduces post-operative recovery times. “It wasn’t until I saw the robot in action that I understood how fantastic this machine is,” he says.
“Making the leap from laparoscopic surgery to the robotic-assisted approach, I’ve found the level of detail this system allows amazing. There is so much more we can do for colorectal conditions with incredible precision: ‘precision surgery’ is what the robotic system is about.”
The 3D high-definition imaging shows each tiny nerve and blood vessel with exceptional clarity
— Daniel Surridge
Mastering the Da Vinci Xi requires rigorous training and great expertise, according to Surridge, who recently completed training in robotic-assisted procedures for the treatment of rectal and colon cancers. “Surgeons undergo comprehensive training modules, encompassing simulator sessions, hands-on experience with cadavers and collaborative surgeries with seasoned experts,” he says.
Does the Da Vinci Xi foreshadow AI-powered robots replacing surgeons?
“The topic of AI comes up quite a bit when we discuss the future of surgery,” says Surridge. “I think decision-making and surgery are what sets us apart, but what I've always said to my students and colleagues is, even if something comes in to take over a function that you thought was yours, there will always be something else that you need to do.”
According to Surridge, the robotic system cannot perform surgery nor do anything independently. Rather, its every movement is controlled by a skilled surgical team. The Da Vinci Xi performs additional safety checks, further complementing the surgeon’s skill, he says.
“The patient is left with only tiny punctures in the skin, where the very slender instruments, far more agile than the human hand, pierce the skin to reach the surgical site deep in the body. The 3D high-definition imaging shows each tiny nerve and blood vessel with exceptional clarity for enhanced precision,” he says.
The Da Vinci Xi has also been a boon for state hospitals. Tim Forgan, a colorectal surgeon at Tygerberg Hospital and a lecturer at Stellenbosch University’s medical faculty, says the availability of the robot offers a valuable opportunity to show how a state hospital can function at a very high level.
“Surgery is progressing rapidly on the hi-tech front, making it safer and more efficient. Tygerberg already has some of the most advanced minimally invasive surgical skills in the country at its disposal, so being able to promptly apply these skills to the robot is very beneficial for patients and substantiates the reputation of Stellenbosch University for producing excellent surgeons,” he says on the university’s news site.
Netcare CEO Richard Friedland says technology is not “merely a nice-to-have in health care. Where there is a compelling benefit for patients, it becomes imperative.”
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