Technology
Inaugural Deployment of a Private Healthcare Robot in Action
The Wáberer Medical Center marks a groundbreaking milestone as the first private healthcare institution to introduce robot-assisted surgical techniques. In this innovative approach, the operating surgeon adeptly controls the robotic device with both hands and feet, enabling remarkably precise movements. Initially deployed in urological surgery, the technology will subsequently extend to applications in gynecology and general surgery.
Describing the transformative nature of this new technology, urologist Prof. Dr. Péter Tenke highlighted that using this robot feels akin to immersing oneself inside the patient's body to gain an up-close understanding of the issue at hand. During a press conference showcasing the device, its extraordinary precision was demonstrated by delicately peeling and suturing a grape.
Robot-assisted surgery offers numerous advantages, including enhanced precision, surpassing the range of motion of the human hand with its four robotic arms. Surgeons benefit from a three-dimensional view of the organ under operation, while the software continuously analyzes their hand movements, detecting any unsteady actions, including hand tremors, thereby enhancing the safety of the procedure.
Dr. Tenke emphasized that robot-assisted surgery minimizes infection risks, eliminates potential complications, and reduces blood loss. Moreover, patient recovery time and hospital stays are significantly shortened.
The global use of surgical robots dates back to 2000, with approximately 7,500 robots supporting 60,000 skilled surgeons who have successfully completed 12 million procedures with the Da Vinci device. Today, a robotic surgery is performed approximately every nineteen seconds worldwide.
Entrepreneur György Wáberer, speaking at the press conference, explained that the opportunity to invest in the HUF 1 billion (EUR 2.6 million) Da Vinci device was embraced without hesitation. The Wáberer Medical Center now stands as Hungary's first private healthcare provider to offer this advanced technology to its medical professionals. Although the initial investment may appear substantial, international experience suggests that in the long term, it proves more cost-effective than traditional surgical procedures.
Robotic technology also alleviates the burden on medical staff, reduces the number of personnel required for surgeries, and shortens procedure times. Additionally, patients experience significantly reduced hospital stays following robot-assisted surgery, easing the demands on nurses and healthcare infrastructure.
For patients who have undergone prostate cancer surgery, the hospitalization period can be as short as five days without requiring a catheter. In the past, recovery after exploratory surgery could extend up to three weeks, exacting both physical and psychological tolls. After a hysterectomy, patients can return home either the day of the surgery or the following day.
In Hungary, thirty-five skilled surgeons have been trained to perform robot-assisted procedures. They completed an online course provided by the manufacturer, passed rigorous examinations, and participated in simulation exercises comparable to those for pilots.
At the Wáberer Medical Center, robot-assisted surgeries are available at a cost ranging from two to three million Hungarian forints (EUR 7,688). By way of comparison, in Germany, these procedures are priced between EUR 12,000 and EUR 14,000, and in Romania, from EUR 9,000 to EUR 10,000.
