Saskatoon's new robotics-assisted surgery program will help 'improve surgical volumes,' SHA CEO says
On January 10th Mark Turcotte was diagnosed with prostate cancer – requiring surgery that would eventfully be performed with robotic assistance.
His October 24th surgery is one he would recommend, knowing he was in good hands.
“We had many discussions about the procedure I was going to pursue,” said Turcotte. “The results now are proving that it can be done very effectively”
Turcotte is now over 90 per cent recovered, with many of his scars healing. He is one of more than two dozen patients who have had surgery performed through the Surgical Robotics Program since September, which provides the province’s first robotic-assisted surgery.
“We've been at this now for several years to try to bring robotic surgery to St. Paul's Hospital,” said Dr.Varun Bathini Lead Surgical Robotics Program.
“When I found out that it was happening, I couldn't be happier.”
Compared to non-robotic assisted surgery, Dr. Bathini says robotics-assisted surgeries provide 3D visualizations. This allows surgeons the ability to manipulate instruments with a 360 motion as “this allows you to manipulate the tissues in much tighter spaces.”
From a patient's perspective, the procedures are less painful, according to information Dr. Bathini is being told by nurses.
According to Dr. Bathini, it would take 10 cases to train one urologist on the equipment. Currently, St.Paul’s Hospital has four urologist training to use the equipment.
“I would say probably around my fifth to sixth case, I already felt fairly comfortable.”
In a world where time is a factor and resources are limited robotic-assisted surgeries can help alleviate some stress put on the healthcare system.
On urological operations alone – Dr.Bathini says 100 beds a year could be saved using the robotic-assisted surgical system on prostatectomies as it provides a quicker recovery time.
“Definitely, this robotic program will also help us improve our surgical volumes in the province,” said Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Andrew Will. “Particularly because the recovery time is faster it allows us to free up beds that we need to recover other surgical patients.”
Will says with the establishment of the Surgical Robotics Program he hopes to see the full benefits of the program and then grow it over time.
Each da Vinci Surgical System costs approximately $2.5 million.
Dr. Bathini wants to see a robotically-assisted surgical system installed at Royal University Hospital, which he believes should also be expanded to centres in Regina and other parts of the province.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.