Sheffield Teaching Hospitals is performing the first RAS hysterectomy in the region

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has carried out the region’s first robotic surgery hysterectomy (RAS) for a patient with severe endometriosis, reducing the recovery time compared to traditional surgery.

Robotic assisted endometriosis hysterectomies at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals are performed on the Da Vinci X robot.

The state-of-the-art surgery was performed using a robotic surgical system controlled by a team of specially trained doctors, nurses and anesthetists. The average recovery time for a traditionally performed hysterectomy is six to eight weeks. In comparison, the first patient to undergo a total hysterectomy via robot-assisted surgery at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals said she was able to resume normal activities within a week.

In addition, the multi-arm surgical robot can speed up the time required to perform the operation. It allows the surgical team to perform complicated and delicate maneuvers, including 360-degree rotation in tight spaces, beyond what a human hand could achieve.

Working from a console, positioned next to the operating table, a surgeon controls the robot during surgery. They have a magnified, high-definition 3D view of the surgical site on a screen positioned in front of them, which the entire operating room team also benefits from.

The first robotic hysterectomies were led by consultant gynecologist Mr Karim Abdallah, who described the progress as a “remarkable achievement” for women’s health.

He said: “The successful introduction of this pioneering surgery is a big step forward in improving the health and wellbeing of women living with benign but debilitating gynecological conditions.

“Sheffield (Teaching Hospitals) is the first in South Yorkshire to offer this cutting-edge surgery, which is aimed at helping young, active women who have suffered for many years from common gynecological conditions such as endometriosis.”

Last year, the creator of the Da Vinci robot-assisted surgery system, Intuitive, joined forces with the Royal College of Surgeons of England to help shape the future development of robot-assisted surgery.