Brno has the first Versius surgical robotic system in the Czech Republic.

Doctors at SurGal Clinic, a private hospital in Brno, will be the first in the Czech Republic to use the Versius robotic surgical system from the British company Cambridge Medical Robotics (CMR). Versius is a new-generation medical technology used for robotically navigated minimally invasive operations in abdominal and thoracic surgery, urology, as well as colon surgery and gynaecology.

“I am pleased that SurGal Clinic is the first hospital in the Czech Republic to introduce the innovative Versius surgical system into clinical practice. With regard to the composition of care provided at our facility, we will use the surgical robot mainly in the field of colorectal and thoracic surgery, including onco-surgery. We are also prepared to use the system for other surgical procedures where we feel there will be a benefit to the patient – such as large abdominal defects, diastasis and hernias. We are officially launching the system into clinical use on January 1, 2024, at no cost to the patient.” says Jitka Smrčka, director of SurGal Clinic.

“Over the last month and a half, three surgical teams have undergone intensive training. Each group of surgeons and OR nurses has undergone a comprehensive training process at CMR’s training centre and at SurGal Clinic’s own premises. The first fifteen robotic procedures were performed at our facility under the guidance of foreign proctors with great success. The system goes beyond the capabilities of the human hand and will allow us to perform existing procedures more precisely while minimizing blood loss. We were very pleasantly surprised by the functionality and modularity of the system.” adds Petr Diviš, Medical Director and Head of the SurGal Clinic Robotic Surgery Centre.

The use of robotic surgical systems has many advantages for both doctors and patients. They help surgeons during procedures with better visualization, higher precision and filtering of hand tremors. Another indisputable advantage is the greater flexibility of robotic surgical tools, which allows doctors to work more easily and precisely in confined spaces such as a small pelvis or chest cavity. For patients, the major benefits of minimally invasive surgery include smaller post-operative wounds, less blood loss, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and reduced risk of infection.

“As the data shows, robotics is clearly a global trend in surgery, especially in developed Western countries. The Versius system is currently the second most clinically used system and more than 16,000 surgeries have been performed on it in 20 countries. I am glad that we could introduce it to the domestic market in 2023 and bring the Czech population closer to medical care using the most advanced technologies of today. The introduction of the new technology also includes long-term support from the supplier PROMEDICA PRAHA GROUP directly for SurGal Clinic to ensure a smooth and safe start of operations,” says Pavel Hanuš, CEO of PROMEDICA PRAHA GROUP.

The practical main advantage of the Versius system is its mobility and modularity. It fits into most common operating theatres and requires virtually no structural modifications. Its mobility also allows it to be shared between several different operating theatres. An additional advantage is provided by the system’s open elevation console with 3D display capability, which allows the trained operator to have the robotic arms under direct supervision and to communicate verbally and non-verbally with his colleagues in real time.

The concept of separate tooling and visualization arms provides freedom in port placement according to the operator’s requirements, including the ability to introduce a port from a lower angle. The need for complex system redocking when changing the operating field is eliminated. The end portions of the arms are equipped with advanced V-Wrist technology, which allows rotation of the operating instrument in the range of 720°, far exceeding the movement capabilities of the human hand. This makes it possible to operate even at extreme angles. All arms are equipped with pressure sensors to ensure maximum patient safety.

“The SurGal Clinic’s goal is to introduce new methods and continuously modernise its approaches. The acquisition of an innovative surgical robotic system is further clear evidence that the stated goals are being met.” Jitka Smrčka, Director of SurGal Clinic, concludes.

At Promedica, we are extremely proud of the innovative solutions that we are constantly bringing to the Czech healthcare system.

Watch the report below (CZ).