Vietnam uses surgical robots for the first time

Binh Dan Hospital (HCMC) inaugurated the first robotic surgery system on adults in Vietnam on the morning of December 10.

This is the first surgical robot system licensed by the Ministry of Health to treat adults in Vietnam, withCost of 71 billion VND, from stimulus loan of Ho Chi Minh City.

Dr. Tran Vinh Hung, Director of Binh Dan Hospital said.Robotic surgery has evolved to the fourth generation with four surgical arms and a smart camera head.From a control station away from the operating table, surgeons can control the robotic arm to rotate 540 degrees.,Free movement at 6 angles and fine motor skills.This is something that human hands cannot do, allowing surgery innarrow, deep and hard to reach places,overcome the limitations of open surgery and laparoscopic surgery.

"The enhanced vision from the 3D endoscope screen, magnified 12 times, helps the surgeon to control the surgery well, removing the maximum amount of cancerous tumors," Dr. Hung shared. Thisproviding patients with access to high-tech treatment right in Vietnam at a cost much lower than going abroad for treatment.

The cost for a robotic laparoscopic surgery at Binh Dan Hospital is about 80-100 million VND.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien visited the robotic surgery system at Binh Dan Hospital on December 10. Photo: HN

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong highly appreciated Binh Dan Hospital's bold investment in high technology to treat critical illnesses. This is a step forward for the city's medical sector, for the benefit of patients, contributing to making Ho Chi Minh City a smart city, keeping up with the world's development.

Robotic surgery is now popular in major surgical centers in North America, Europe, Japan, Korea, Singapore, creating a revolution in the treatment of many complex surgical diseases such as prostate tumor surgery, gastrectomy, liver resection, lung resection, mediastinal tumor resection, hysterectomy, thoracic surgery, cardiovascular surgery... In particular, the system is highly effective in the treatment of choledochal cysts, congenital megacolon, hydronephrosis, biliary atresia, coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve repair...

Doctors perform surgery on a robotic system. Photo: HN

Binh Dan Hospital was established in 1954, currently specializes in grade 1 surgery, the final treatment line for the southern provinces. Every year this placewelcomed nearly 400,000 patients for examination and treatment, over 40,000 surgeries with many specialized and complicated cases.

In March 2014, the National Children's Hospital had the first pediatric endoscopic surgery center using robots in the country.

According to VNE