More patients benefit from robotic surgery

Today, robotic surgery is embedded across eight surgical specialties at the hospital, from urology and cardiothoracic surgery to transplantation and paediatric surgery.  
Supported by a fleet of six surgical robots, the programme continues to grow in both scale and scope. The expansion is driven by a clear objective: enabling more patients to benefit from minimally invasive treatment.

"The real value of robotic surgery is not the technology itself, but what it enables for patients," says Ali Khatami, Head of Urology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. 

Reduced surgical trauma and faster recovery 

By allowing surgeons to operate through smaller incisions with enhanced precision and visualisation, robotic-assisted surgery can reduce surgical trauma and support faster recovery. For many patients, this can mean less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, and a quicker return to everyday life.

To enable even more patient groups to benefit from minimally invasive surgeries, Sahlgrenska University Hospital is now using a new generation surgical robot, the da Vinci Single-Port, which enables minimally invasive surgery for patients who were previously not candidates for robotic procedures, such as those with prior abdominal surgeries.

“Previously, robotic surgery was not always an option for patients who had undergone multiple prior operations, due to adhesions that can develop between the intestines and the abdominal wall. With the new robotic platform, we can avoid entering the abdominal cavity altogether, allowing us to offer minimally invasive surgery to patients who previously had limited treatment options,” says Ali Khatami.

The new robot’s flexible instruments can be deployed once inside the body, allowing surgeons to access hard-to-reach areas with greater precision. Initially introduced in urology for cancer and reconstructive procedures, its use is now expanding to additional specialties, including transplantation, general surgery, and gynaecology. 

Building on years of experience

Sahlgrenska University Hospital was an early adopter of robotic-assisted surgery and has used robotic systems since 2008. Over nearly two decades, the technology has evolved from a novel surgical tool into an established part of clinical practice across multiple specialties. At the same time, the digital nature of robotic surgery has created new opportunities to capture and analyse procedural data, supporting training, performance assessment, and the continuous refinement of surgical techniques.

Supported by multidisciplinary collaboration, ongoing training, and technological innovation, robotic-assisted surgery continues to advance at the hospital and today forms an integral part of surgical care across numerous specialties.