Prostate cancer patient becomes first in region to have robotic day surgery

REGION’S FIRST: Castle Hill Hospital

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Surgeons at Castle Hill Hospital have used robotic surgery to treat a patient’s prostate cancer in a single day for the first time.

The man in his 50s underwent a radical prostatectomy and was back home recovering about 12 hours later, after the prostate and all traces of cancer were removed by keyhole surgery.

Consultant urologist Matthew Simms used the Da Vinci Robotic surgical system to perform the procedure in May with the support of anaesthetists Dr Narendra Pai and Dr Prasad Lanka. The patient was cared for by theatre recovery staff and the team on Ward 15 before going home.

Mr Simms said introducing prostatectomies as day surgery cases is a technological leap for Humber Health Partnership, the group running Castle Hill Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary, Goole Hospital, Scunthorpe General and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby.

He said: “This is major abdominal surgery and the success of this procedure as a day case gives us the confidence that we can deliver high-quality surgery using Da Vinci with great outcomes for our patients.

“It was possible only because of the coordination and great teamwork between our surgical, anaesthetic and ward teams and pharmacy staff, all working together for the benefit of the patient.”

More than 300 patients undergo prostatectomies through Da Vinci robotic surgery each year at Castle Hill Hospital.

Before the installation of the first £1.4m Da Vinci robot at Castle Hill in 2015 – thanks to the financial support of former Hull City owner Assem Allam and his family – patients requiring prostatectomies could spend between two and four days in hospital following open surgery or conventional keyhole surgery.

A second Da Vinci robot was introduced around 2020, with the original robot replaced in 2023, and hospital stays were reduced to one night for patients undergoing the procedure.

Now, this complex keyhole surgery can be completed in a single day, with the patient given appropriate counselling and advice on post-operative care following surgery in the Urology Theatre at Castle Hill.

Mr Simms said: “Numbers have increased, year on year, because prostate cancer is being diagnosed more frequently than before and there’s been an increase in testing.

“Day surgery takes treatment to a new level. Patients are given the right information, know what to expect and the support available so they can be discharged home that same day.

“Most patients prefer to sleep in their own beds rather than in hospital and it also supports the hospital because beds can be freed up for patients requiring emergency care.”

While day case surgery is suitable for many patients, patients with multiple illnesses known as co-morbidities, those who are overweight or obese and those likely to require extensive surgery may not be suitable.

Patients have to consent to undergo the procedure as a day case, are given appropriate counselling and pre-operative care and advice, and analgesia or pain relief to cope with mild to moderate post-operative pain. At the moment, they return to hospital for a post-operative check, although that may change in the future.

Mr Simms said: “This is a definitive operation to treat cancer. The whole point is to cure cancer in one sitting although, in some cases, cancer can come back and requires treatment with radiotherapy.

“Usually, patients who have a good start to recovery continue to make a good recovery and that’s what this day case surgery will give them – a great start to their recovery.”