A robotic-TAMIS surgery has successfully been performed by surgeons at the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital – the first colorectal surgery of it’s kind to be undertaken in Birmingham and the Black Country.
TAMIS (Transanal minimally invasive surgery) is a technique used by surgeons to remove early-stage cancers and polyps from the rectum.
Helps lower risk of more severe conditions
The procedure helps to lower the risk of patients developing more severe conditions which may require major surgery or permanent stomas in the future by removing potentially cancerous tissue at an early stage.
Though surgeons at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS trusts have been performing the surgery for around a year, this surgery is the first time that the state-of-the-art da Vinci robot has been used to carry out the procedure.
Deploying state-of-the-art technology
Surgeons performing the Robotic-TAMIS procedure use a telescopic camera and surgical instruments via a surgical console. This enabled surgeons more manoeuvrability of the instruments, making the procedure more ergonomically than traditional TAMIS surgery.
With the ability to remove polyps whole rather than in separate parts, examining tissue for cancer becomes much easier.
Helping to benefit patients
54-year-old Steven Millard from Oldbury was the first patient to benefit from the r-TAMIS technique. He underwent emergency surgery for bowel cancer in 2020 and during a route one check-up clinicians discovered a polyp-like growth in his rectum.
Samples showed pre alignment change in the tissue, so the decision was made to offer him r-TAMIS in order to remove the polyp.
Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon Mr Shantanu Rout who performed the procedure said: “NHS England have recently announced that they are anticipating a significant expansion of robotic surgery to speed up patient care and cut down waiting lists. It’s estimated that 90% of all keyhole surgery will be robotic.”
Enabled by new facilities in state-of-the-art Met hospital
With larger, well designed surgical theatres, the Midland Metropolitan Hospital has helped enable robotic-assisted surgery at the Trust. The hospital, located in Smethwick, features eleven surgical theatres and two maternity theatres, with even more space to expand into in the future.
Originally written by Sandwell and Birmingham NHS Trust, original available at: https://www.swbh.nhs.uk/news/first-robotic-tamis-surgery-performed-in-birmingham-and-black-country/
