Robotic surgery helped three patients in NHS Forth Valley receive vital treatment more quickly, and this week they reflected on the difference it made to their lives. The revolutionary method has now been fully unveiled by the health board.
Patients Share Their Experiences
Michael Cavin from Stirling was one of the first patients to be treated with help from the Healix robot at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for a hernia repair. He said: "When I was first asked about undergoing the procedure using the new robotic system, I wasn’t worried as I had seen it being used in other operations on TV and knew that it can help improve the vision and precision of the surgery carried out."
He added: "I am very happy with how the operation went as my wounds were very small and I needed very minimal pain relief so was able to stop taking strong painkillers quite quickly."
Walter Gibb from Grangemouth, who works for NHS Forth Valley as a Building Manager, also underwent a hernia repair using robotic assisted surgery. He said: "I had pains around the stomach and went to the doctors who discovered after a scan I had two hernias."
He continued: "The surgeon got in touch and asked if I would be happy to have my operation using the new surgical robot. quicker. I’ve never had an operation or a general anaesthetic before so I was a bit nervous, but I know that this is the future and I was happy to be part of it."
A Quick Return to Normal Life
Gibb said: "Everything went well, I was in at 7.45am and back out at 7.30pm the same day I walked out. My recovery went really well and I was back at work after two-and-a-half to three weeks with no issues. I know other people who have had hernia operations who have taken much longer to recover so I was pleased I was able to get back out and about so quickly."
Robert Keith from Clackmannanshire was the first patient to undergo a bowel resection procedure using robotic assisted surgery. He explained: "I had an earlier operation for my gall bladder and three weeks after the operation I was waking up in the night and the neck of my t-shirt was soaked in sweat. I contacted my GP."
He said: "I was sent for a colonoscopy where they found a polyp which was removed and found to be cancerous. They felt that the cancer was removed but there was a 10 to 15 per cent chance of it returning, so I had the option of having the operation or waiting to see what happened."
Surgeons Highlight Benefits
Keith added: "I came in for the operation on the Tuesday to get and was back home on the Thursday night, so that was a quick recovery and I got back on with my own living when I got home."
Surgeon Mr James Kynaston said: "Robotic surgery is an advanced surgery tool which is entirely controlled by the surgeon. What it does is to allow much more precise movements and allows much better vision. It is an advancement of what we initially called keyhole surgery and brings more advanced surgery to our already established programme at Forth Valley Royal. Our team works incredibly well together."
Dr Sonia Allam, a consultant anaesthetist, added: "Because this is more precision surgery that means there is going to be less tissue damage and more precise dissection and because of that, patients will be nice and comfortable and less sore afterwards. That is going to be a benefit to help them to recover to get them moving again and get back to eating and drinking."
She said: "So far in cases I have been involved in I have seen quite a rapid recovery which is very heartening to see."
