Eleven robotic systems for soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery have been endorsed for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The consent comes with the condition that the systems should only be used while confirmation of their success is being collected and explored.
Five of the approved systems are for soft tissue procedures. This includes tumour removal, hernia repair, and gallbladder surgery. The remaining six are for orthopaedic surgery such as complete and partial knee replacements and hip replacements.
Benefits and Future Potential
The use of robotic technology, which makes movements more precise than the human hand, could lead to shorter hospital stays, speedy recovery, and a faster return to work. Patients may also experience less pain and less scarring compared with established surgery.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director says, “Robot-assisted surgery is crucial to the future of high-quality healthcare”. He added that that less invasive techniques and shorter recovery times could have a “knock-on effect throughout the system and help patients get treated quicker.”
List of Approved Technologies
- Da Vinci SP
- Da Vinci X and Xi
- Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery System
- Senhance Surgical System
