The Medical City Sets Pace in Health Care with Robotics Surgery

June 29, 2010, Manila, Philippines: The Medical City (TMC) strengthens its leadership position in the national hospital industry by being the first to introduce robotic-assisted surgery in the Philippines. Previously available only in the more developed nations, TMC makes this cutting-edge service accessible in the country, thus broadening the options for minimally-invasive surgery, particularly in the treatment of cancer.

Robotic-assisted surgery has benefitted over 200,000 patients worldwide. The surgeon performs the procedure by manipulating robotic arms from a special viewing and control console. The arms wield fine surgical instruments that are able to cut, dissect and suture with full range of motion, as well as a camera that allows the surgeon to view the operative site in three dimensions, magnified up to 10 times.

Since the surgeon is seeing and controlling everything from a separate console, complex procedures can be performed through 1-2 centimeter openings, in contrast with open surgery which requires much larger incisions. Robotic-assisted procedures are also superior to laparoscopic procedures. In laparoscopy, long instruments are inserted through the small incisions and are then controlled by the surgeon outside the patient’s body. On the other hand, robotic arm instruments have freedom of movement similar to the wrist motion of human hands; thus, it is just like having the surgeon’s hands inside the patient’s body, working directly on the operative site. Moreover, the 3D camera in robotic surgery provides the surgeon with depth perception, which is absent in conventional laparoscopy.

Smaller incisions, more precise surgical techniques and maximum visualization provide numerous benefits to patients including minimal blood loss, limited collateral damage to adjacent tissue, less post-operative pain, lower risk of infection, reduced scarring, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and superior treatment outcomes.

Urology patients, especially those with localized prostate cancer, will benefit greatly from robotic-assisted surgery, as it allows for the removal of the cancerous prostate, with limited damage to nerves, blood vessels and other sensitive structures. Return to normal bladder and sexual function is thus more readily assured. According to the Department of Health, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among Filipino males after lung cancer, with at least 4,000 new prostatic cancer cases diagnosed yearly since 2005. Robotic surgery has been used most widely in the treatment of prostate cancer, and can now help patients burdened with this disease in the Philippines.

Robotic-assisted surgery is also an option in the management of kidney cancer, urinary bladder cancer, colorectal cancer and gynecological cancers. Beyond its cancer applications, the surgical robot can be utilized in kidney surgery, thyroid surgery, uterine surgery, lymph node dissection, treatment for female incontinence, and even open heart surgery.

“We want to offer our patients a broader and better range of service offerings right here at home, and this is the motivation that fuels our continuing investments in treatment capabilities for cancer and other serious medical conditions. It’s not just about buying the latest equipment; it’s about bringing together all the resources – technology, facilities, physician experts, allied medical staff support, etc. – to make world class services accessible and affordable to our patient partners,” says Margaret A. Bengzon, Group Head of TMC’s Strategic Services Group.

“Pivotal to raising the quality of health care in the country is providing treatment programs that promise better outcomes. This is the promise of robotics surgery, which will hereon revolutionize surgical treatment in the Philippines, primarily in the area of cancer care,” added Mrs. Bengzon.

About The Medical City

The Medical City (TMC) is a tertiary health care organization with over forty years’ experience in hospital operation and administration towards the establishment of its world-class health care complex, serving some 40,000 in-patients and 400,000 out-patients annually. TMC has a medical staff of 1,100 physicians who are established experts in their various fields of specialization. This core of professionals is complemented by a 2,200-strong human resource complement, engaged in allied medical, administrative and support services.

At the heart of TMC's service philosophy are new paradigms of hospital care addressing the entire continuum of health needs, and the patient as an equal, informed and empowered partner in the pursuit and preservation of health. TMC is accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the world’s most prestigious accrediting body for international health care organizations, and is a 2010 Reader’s Digest Asia Trusted Brands Awardee.
www.themedicalcity.com.

For media inquiries, contact:

Nina V. Posadas
avposadas@medicalcity.com.ph
H/P: 09178565338

Nest Marie G. Ramos
ngramos@medicalcity.com.ph
H/P: 09175120378

Yvonne Policarpio
ypolicarpio@webershandwick.com
H/P: 09285039395