da Vinci Surgical Robot Installed at Toronto East General Hospital

The Toronto East General Hospital has installed the da Vinci Surgical System at its premises. The system will be inaugurated by the great hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, on 19 October 2011.

The da Vinci Surgical System also known as ‘The Robot’ will be used to treat prostate cancer patients at the hospital. Wayne Gretzky’s presence at the inauguration will be instrumental in creating greater awareness among people about the robotic technology used to treat prostate cancer. With this installation TEGH will be one of the first community hospitals in Canada to have installed ‘The Robot’.

The da Vinci robotic system is the most advanced technology for performing minimally invasive surgery for a number of medical treatments. In treating prostatectomy, it involves makes minimum incision for removing the prostate. Some of the other features offered by the da Vinci system are high quality, three-dimensional image of the part that is being operated, precise control of the surgical equipment by the surgeon, minimum blood loss and faster recovery times for the patient. TEGH will be entering into a partnership with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre after the acquisition of ‘The Robot’ and conduct training for prostate surgeons in becoming adept at the da Vinci robotic surgery.