In our Surgical Simulation Theatre, medics from Guy's and St Thomas livestreamed a Robotic radical prostatectomy using the Hugo robot, in a groundbreaking first for the UK. This gained national attention, including being published in The Standard, highlighting Future Surgery as the heart of surgical innovation. 

Future Surgery makes national news with a ‘UK’s first’ innovative surgery 

 

Each year Future Surgery brings together representatives from the entire perioperative team to explore how innovation and new technology will change the way to care for patients, discuss the shape of the future workforce, and learn the latest and upcoming techniques. We are particularly proud to host innovative surgeries within our Surgical Simulation Theatre, where we showcase live streams and interactive recordings of cutting-edge surgeries, including robot-assisted surgery. 

At our 2023 edition of Future Surgery, we hosted medics from Guy's and St Thomas’ in our Surgical Simulation Theatre as they live streamed a prostate removal using the Hugo Medtronic system, becoming the UK’s first live streamed surgery using a robot. This robotic radical prostatectomy made national news, with The Standard covering the robot assisted surgery.

Dr Ben Challacombe, clinical lead for robotic surgery at Guy’s and St Thomas’, lead the operation on a 73-year-old retired GP, who needed his prostate removed after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. The surgery was live streamed via Proximie – a technology platform that allows clinicians to virtually “scrub in” to any operating room from anywhere in the world. 

By live streaming the operation within our Surgical Simulation Theatre, Guy’s and St Thomas’ not only highlighted themselves as surgeons operating at the forefront of innovation, but also were able to educate and collaborate with peers from across the country who were eagerly viewing within the packed theatre. Dr Challacombe told The Standard it was a “huge honour for our surgical team to be invited to share our expertise with colleagues from across the country”. 

With the largest robotic surgery programme in the UK, Guy’s and St Thomas’ was invited to showcase two additional robot-assisted surgical simulations at the show. 

Asit Arora, ENT robotic head and neck consultant surgeon, used da Vinci to perform a transoral robotic surgery. Meanwhile, Katie Adams, a colorectal surgeon specialising in inflammatory bowel disease, presented an “as live” case to demonstrate the training required to perform robotic colorectal surgery. 

Moving into 2024 we expect to gain further national attention for our speakers and surgeons, as Future Surgery will be hosting even more innovative surgical simulations and live streams. These live surgeries and practical demonstrations never fail to generate excitement both at the event and on the national stage.  

Read more about our innovative surgical simulation featured in The Standard here:

www.standard.co.uk/news/health/doctors-guys-st-thomas-live-stream-prostate-surgery-b1120580.html

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