Queen Mary Hospital has completed 10 prostate-cancer operations using a single-incision robotic technique introduced in December. The approach uses one abdominal incision measuring about four to five centimetres, instead of the five or six incisions generally used for conventional robotic surgery.
The hospital’s urology team reported that the median operating time fell from 279 minutes to 155 minutes — a 44% reduction. Average hospital stay fell from four days to two, which the team said could improve bed turnover and shorten waiting times for surgery.
Several robotic instruments pass through an access device placed in the single incision, allowing doctors to remove the prostate, control bleeding and close the wound. The smaller number of incisions could reduce pain, discomfort and scarring, and may be helpful for patients whose wounds are harder to heal, including some people with diabetes.
The technique is not suitable for every patient. Wong Hoi-lung, an associate consultant in the hospital’s urology department, said it could be suitable for about 80% to 90% of patients. Tumours measuring 150 to 200 cubic centimetres may be unsuitable for the single-incision approach.
A 72-year-old patient who had the operation on 13 August said he was discharged on the evening of 14 August. He said his wound had healed after a week and that he was able to hike several days later.
Access remains limited by equipment. Queen Mary has only one access device, so its urology department can schedule one operating session a week. The hospital hopes to extend the technique to more hospitals.