Robot technology is bringing continuity of care to patients in Victoria's Frankston and Mornington regions, where Peninsula Private Hospital is celebrating another medical milestone.
Specialist surgeon Associate Professor Charles Pilgrim performed the area's first liver resection using the da Vinci Xi system, which arrived at the hospital earlier in 2021.
Peninsula Private Hospital CEO Michelle Henderson said the 49-year-old patient, whose bowel cancer had spread to her liver, did not have to travel into Melbourne for any treatment.
"We have a fantastic team of specialists here and this year we became the first in the region to offer patients access to the da Vinci Xi robot technology," Ms Henderson said.
"I think it's significant that this patient could see Mr Stewart Skinner for her bowel surgery, oncologist Dr Simone Steel for her chemotherapy and A/Prof Charles Pilgrim for her liver surgery, all right here at Peninsula Private Hospital.
"To have that continuity of care is something we're really proud to bring to this region, because we're focused on providing locals with access to top medical care close to home."
A/Prof Pilgrim is the first surgeon in Victoria to use the da Vinci Xi robot for liver resections.
"Using it means we can perform surgery with the minimally-invasive approach more often, expanding what is possible using the keyhole approach," Dr Pilgrim said.
"There are areas of the liver that you can get to with the robot that you just can't get to with traditional laparoscopic surgery. The instruments give you more flexibility to give more precise directions in hard-to-reach areas," he said.
