World-first surgery performed with dual robotic systems at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

St Vincent's surgeon Mr Ed Morrison with patient Jordan

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne was home to a world-first procedure using two separate advanced robotic systems.

SVHM’s Professor Ben Dixon, Director of ENT/Head and Neck Surgery, and Mr Ed Morrison, Plastics and Reconstructive Surgeon, used the da Vinci robot and the Symani robotic system in combination to successfully operate on Jordan, a 27-year-old man, who had a sarcoma deep in his throat just above his voice box.

Initially, it was thought that Jordan may need a laryngectomy (permanent removal of the voice box), however by undertaking the world-first procedure, SVHM surgeons were able to successfully keep Jordan’s larynx intact. The tumour was completely removed while preserving his ability to speak, and Jordan requires no further treatment. 

Revolutionising surgical outcomes for patients 
Without the precision and accuracy provided by these robotic systems working together, Jordan would have lost his voice box, but instead he’s back to his old life. 

The da Vinci robot is a specialised robotic system that enables SVHM surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures for surgeries that would have otherwise required large incisions. The use of this technology leads to reduced scarring, an easier recovery and in some cases, a shorter hospital stay. 

The Symani robot system is inspired by the natural motion of the human wrist, replicating movements made by the surgeon operating the controllers on a far smaller scale. Symani enables surgeons to perform complex microsurgical procedures with greater confidence and accuracy, expanding what is possible in reconstructive surgery beyond even the most talented surgeon’s physical capacity. 

SVHM is the first hospital in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region to introduce the Symani and is one of only 19 sites worldwide with access to the system.  

The robotic systems in action 
The da Vinci robot allowed Professor Dixon to make precise internal throat incisions to remove the tumour while limiting disruption to the surrounding structures including the tongue, jaw and larynx. With access kept to a small neck incision, the result for Jordan was a successful tumour removal with near-normal long-term function, as well as minimal scarring. 

Following the tumour resection, the Symani robot provided Dr Morrison with the ability to meticulously repair vessels less than 1-1.5mm in diameter. Using transplanted tissues from the thigh, a multi-layered closure of the hypopharynx was achieved as well as resuspension of the larynx, restoring near-normal speech and swallowing for Jordan.   

Continuing to provide advanced care 
Through St Vincent’s newly created Clinical Microsurgery Robotic Unit, the Symani is currently being used for breast reconstruction, sarcoma and head and neck cancer reconstruction surgery. There is immense potential for broader application in other surgical procedures.

The Symani system not only increases surgical accuracy and improves access to hard-to-reach areas; the robot also reduces fatigue for surgeons due to increased efficiency, additionally reducing the number of surgeries patients need to undergo to reach the same outcome.