Celebrating 10 Years of robotic-assisted surgery at the University Hospital of Wales

A cutting-edge form of surgery which uses a state-of-the-art robot to remove tumours has treated thousands of patients since being brought to the University Hospital of Wales 10 years ago.

The da Vinci Xi surgical system provides surgeons with enhanced visualisation, dexterity, precision and ergonomics, enabling them to perform minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery. As a result, patients undergoing robotic-assisted surgery benefit from smaller surgical incisions and reduced complications, leading to faster recovery and fewer days in hospital.

When the system came to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board a decade ago, the University Hospital of Wales became the first hospital in the UK to use a da Vinci Xi surgical system. It was first used for Urology procedures, before moving into Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) in 2019. 

The da Vinci Xi consists of three components: a patient cart with four arms for operating and endoscopy, the surgeon’s console and a monitor to view the surgery. It remains one of the most advanced surgical robotic systems available and should only be used by surgeons who have been specially trained.  

Across the Health Board, there are five trained surgeons across Urology and ENT, who have operated on more than 2,700 patients from across Wales since September 2014. 

Mr Sandeep Berry, Consultant Otolaryngologist, said: “The use of the robot is all about addressing patients in need and collaborating on a national platform. With this technology, we can improve the quality of life for patients, achieve better outcomes, deescalate treatment and able to provide research for national trials.” 

The system is one of the ways the Health Board is providing outstanding quality as part of the Shaping Our Future Wellbeing 10-year strategy. The Health Board is at the forefront of advances in technology and treatments which are rapidly changing the way that healthcare is delivered.  

David Marante, Vice President of Intuitive UK and Ireland, makers of the da Vinci surgical system, said: “The surgeons and care teams at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board pioneered the use of our fourth generation da Vinci Xi surgical system in the UK. We’re delighted that their robotic-assisted surgery programme continues to expand 10 years on, so that more patients across Wales can benefit from minimally invasive care.”

Mr Berry and his colleagues were shown operating with the da Vinci Xi on a recent episode of BBC Saving Lives in Cardiff, which aired on BBC One Wales and BBC Two at 9pm on Tuesday 24 September. If you’ve missed an episode, you can catch up on BBC iPlayer now.