Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital

The robotic surgery center at Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital held a symposium on February 6 to celebrate its 500th operation of robotic surgery with da Vinci Xi. Since the introduction of da Vinci Xi in April, 2015, the center achieved its 200th surgery in June 2016, and 300th surgery in December of the same year. It made a record of accomplishing 500 robotic surgeries on January 17, 2018, by performing 200 more successful surgeries.

The symposium began with opening remarks delivered by Dr. Seong Ho Lee, Director of the Robotic Surgery Center, followed by Director Kyu Hyung Ryu's congratulatory remarks. The session covered ‘Current status and development plan of robotic surgery’ by Dr. Jong Wan Kim, ‘Launching of robotic radical cystectomy and intracorporeal orthotopic ileal neobladder’ by Dr. Jun Hyun Han, ‘Robotic low anterior resection in rectal cancer’ by Dr. Jong Wan Kim and ‘Robotic single site surgery in gynecology’ by Dr. Min Sun Kyung.

Among the departments, the department of general surgery has the record for the highest number of robotic surgeries performed at 271 cases. In total, the center performed 523 surgeries, including the cases accomplished by many other departments, such as Obstetrics & Gynecology(133), Urology(107), Otorhinolaryngology / Head & Neck Surgery(11), and Neurosurgery(1). In recent years, the number of OB/GYN patients as well as patients with urologic disorders who are satisfied with the robot-assisted surgery is rising, which is eventually leading to an increase in the number of robotic surgeries performed at the center.

"Our physicians in various departments, such as General Surgery, Urology, OB/GYN, Otorhinolaryngology / Head & Neck Surgery, and Thoracic Surgery have been actively engaged in performing robotic surgeries that involve minimally invasive procedures in particular," Director Seong Ho Lee said. "We will continue to put our utmost efforts into maximizing patient satisfaction," he added.

By Hyun Ho Choi, Int’l Cooperation Team, HUMC (dullie1989@hallym.or.kr)