Robotic innovation enhances surgical precision and accelerated recovery

Bangkok Hospital invests in robot-assisted surgery system to elevate patient care and experience, and for the future of healthcare.

Just imagine if remote robotic surgery starts offering access to specialist or expert surgeons – who won’t have to travel long distances to operate on patients – for timely patient care in and out of the operating theater.

This is a hope for the future, if and when technology can finally overcome lag, which is the key hurdle to the possibility of remote robotic surgery.

But for now, Bangkok Hospital, a leading healthcare provider in Thailand, has joined the ranks of leading Asian healthcare facilities – such Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (the first in the region to deploy a da Vinci Xi system in 2014), Malaysia’s Sunway Medical Center, and Singapore’s National Cancer Center and Raffles Hospital – by investing over 200 million baht to establish a cutting-edge robotic surgery center equipped with multiple operating rooms integrated with the latest robotic platforms, including the da Vinci Xi Surgical System.

This investment underscores the hospital’s commitment to becoming the premier destination for robot-assisted surgery in Southeast Asia, offering patients access to the most advanced minimally invasive surgery across a wide range of specialties.

The da Vinci Xi Surgical System enables surgeons to perform complex procedures with improved precision and better dexterity. Conditions that can benefit from robot-assisted surgery include thoracic diseases like lung cancer and thymus gland disease; urological diseases such as prostate and kidney cancers; abdominal and hepato-pancreato-biliary diseases including hernias, gallstones, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and gallbladder cancer; as well as gynecological diseases like uterine fibroid, endometriosis, ovarian mass, and uterine cancer.

“We are dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare challenges faced by Southeast Asia, including the growing burden of cancers, an aging population, and disparities in access to quality care,” said Dr. Ekkit Surakarn, Deputy Hospital Director of Bangkok Hospital.

“Our robot-assisted surgery program is centered around delivering tangible benefits and value to our patients, while actively engaging with insurance providers to expand coverage for these advanced treatments.”

Patient and surgeon experience

Recognizing the achievements of robot-assisted surgery, Bangkok Hospital has successfully completed 200 cases, showcasing its expertise in leveraging state-of-the-art technology to deliver superior patient outcomes. The hospital’s strategic vision is to become the robotic hub of Southeast Asia, making advanced surgical treatments more accessible to patients throughout the region at competitive prices.

The hospital has reported remarkable outcomes, with significant improvements in key operating indicators such as reduced blood loss, shorter recovery time, faster patient mobilization, decreased risk of infection, and unplanned readmission.

Patients who have undergone robotic precision surgery report less pain, faster recovery, no need for narcotic pain medication, less scarring, shorter hospital stays, and overall better patient experience.

Surgeons report better precision compared to open surgery, less invasive and smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, and less tiring surgical operations leading to better patient care.

Journey into the future

“Accessibility to robotic surgery helps bring costs down for the public, while ensuring patient safety,” said Assoc Prof Dr Thun Ingkakul. “This is the future of healthcare.”

Bangkok Hospital’s multidisciplinary approach brings together highly skilled medical teams to create personalized treatment plans and deliver comprehensive care throughout the patient’s journey.

“The future use of AI allows detection of cancer at very early stages, and combined with robotics and augmented reality, healthcare can be greatly enhanced,” said Bangkok Hospital urology surgeon Asst. Prof. Dr Tanet Thaidumrong.

The latest addition to the da Vinci surgical systems family is the da Vinci 5, which includes force feedback to eliminate unnecessary damage to patients during surgical operations, according to Intuitive, the US maker of these robotic systems.

The hospital’s 5-year roadmap includes expanding its robotic surgery capabilities, covering more specialties such as ear-nose-throat surgery while investing in education and training to establish Bangkok Hospital as a regional center for skill development, ultimately becoming a recognized center of excellence in robotic surgery.

“We remain dedicated to advancing the frontiers of robotic surgery and expanding its benefits to patients across Asia,” said Dr Ekkit Surakarn.