"Amazing robotic experience!"

Robotic surgery vs open surgery – there is no comparison!

I have had two laparotomies in recent years.

The first, an emergency, to repair accidental perforations to my uterus and bowel and to create a colostomy. The second to reverse the colostomy.

There were complications in each case -including sepsis - and hospital stays of 14 and 10 days respectively.

I was referred to Gynaecology at Ninewells Hospital earlier this year with a large lump in my abdomen. It was identified as a possible borderline ovarian cancer and I was advised that due to my history, the only way to remove it was by robotic surgery.

I was referred to Dr Ragupathy who undertook the procedure along with Mr Campbell.

My surgery ended up lengthy and complex. I had a hysterectomy, a 20cm cyst removed, ovaries and tubes removed and a bowel resection (a consequence of previous operations)

However, I had nothing stronger than paracetamol, was fully independent from day 2 and at every stage of my recovery, felt 4 – 6 weeks ahead of where I was after open surgery.

I was fully mobile, had no pain to speak of and did not have to face another large scar.

As a result of being mobile and pain free I did not really lose fitness and by 5 weeks I was walking 10k again.

I cannot express the differences enough! I went from dreading the operation to raving to everyone about how amazing it was.

Without robotic assistance it is likely that I would have suffered more bowel damage, with perhaps the need for another stoma. And from experience I know that I would have been facing a longer, more painful recovery and I certainly would not be feeling as physically fit as I am today, 6 weeks on.

With NHS resources at such a premium, investment in additional robots must surely be the way forward. Shorter hospital stays, independent patients, quicker recoveries, less medication, fewer complications, to name but a few advantages.

I sincerely hope that many, many more NHS Tayside patients will be able to experience robotically assisted procedures in the future.