robot puts LUHFT pancreatic service at the top of the pile

The pancreatic unit at LUHFT is using robotic surgery to improve the quality of care for patients.

Surgeons at our Royal Hospital have received training on how to operate the state-of-the-art machinery which allows them to perform major operations with greater precision.

Surgeons sit inside the Da Vinci Xi electronic console, placing their fingers into a glove like apparatus. This glove allows our surgeons to control the robot’s arms, which offer more movement than the human hands allow.

Jawad Ahmad, Consultant Surgeon, from Coventry University Hospitals and lead UK trainer for pancreatic robotic surgery, said: “Robotic surgery reduces pain and recovery time for patients meaning they spend less time in hospital. This innovative way of operating will be hugely beneficial to the communities Liverpool University Hospitals care for.”

Pancreatic surgeons join our colleagues from urology, colorectal and upper GI in being able to perform this modern procedure. There are now two robots in operation at the Royal and three across LUHFT, the only Trust in the North West to have this number.

Declan Dunne, Consultant Pancreatic Surgeon at LUHFT, said: “This is an extremely exciting time for our unit and patients.”

“The investment and introduction of this additional robot further cements our reputation as one of the leading pancreatic services internationally. It is great to work for an ambitious Trust which embraces new techniques and ways of working, so its staff can stay at the top of their game and continue to give our patients access to the latest facilities.

“For me personally, it would be a privilege to train colleagues in other hospitals on how to use the robot in the future. We will see an increase in robotic surgery in the UK and our team strives to be at the forefront of that.”