Three robotic colorectal cancer operations completed in one day at NNUH
For the first time, the colorectal and robotic surgery teams at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) have successfully completed three major robotic colorectal cancer resections in a single day.
NNUH has become the first hospital in East Anglia, and one of only a handful of hospitals across the UK to achieve this milestone. Delivering three complex cancer operations required careful planning and co-ordination across multiple teams. Colleagues from several clinical teams and administrative and operational services all contributed to the day’s success.
Prof Irshad Shaikh, Consultant Colorectal and Lead Robotic Surgeon at NNUH, said: “We are extremely grateful to the whole team who made this possible, including our anaesthetic colleagues, cancer nurse specialists, operational team, resident doctors, theatre team and advanced surgical practitioners. It shows how using these advanced tools and technology can improve efficiency in the operating theatre to benefit our patients. A huge thank you also goes to N&N Hospitals Charity for supporting the development of our robotic programme.”
Henry O’Connor, Consultant in Intensive Care and Anaesthesia, said: “I was most pleased to be part of an excellent day of teamwork, achieving three major robotic colorectal resections in one day. There were some complexities with the first two patients, but the team in theatre worked swiftly and efficiently to deliver safe and effective care to all three patients.”
Alex Allen, Clinical Lead for Perioperative Theatre Equipment and Robotic Surgery, said: “Completing three major robotic colorectal cancer operations in a single day demonstrates how far our robotic service has developed and what can be achieved through effective teamwork. The day required meticulous planning, excellent communication and collaboration across the surgical, anaesthetic and theatre teams. It was a great example of everyone working towards a common goal, and we are proud to continue expanding the benefits of robotic surgery for our patients.”
All three patients have had their cancer entirely removed and have been discharged from hospital.
Mazen Jeha, Senior Operations Manager for General Surgery, said: “Completing two resections in a day is an achievement, and pushing this to three cases, while maintaining the exceptional standards of treatment we consistently reach, helps us create extra capacity to treat for more patients. Enormous well done and thanks to everyone involved, especially Prof Shaikh, who was instrumental in pulling all of this together.”
The Norfolk and Norwich Institute of Robotic Surgery officially opened in September. Featuring state-of-the-art da Vinci robots funded by donations, the £2.8m facility doubles robotic surgery capacity at NNUH, offering innovative, minimally invasive treatments. NNUH hosts several visiting consultants to learn from the teams’ experience and transfer those skills across the UK and Europe.