Current experiences with robotic surgery at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University in Korea

Abstract

We started performing laparoscopic cholecystectomies in 1991. Since that time, many surgeons have been trained in laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery, and laparoscopic surgery has been used in numerous procedures, with patients benefitting as a result.We performed the first automated surgery in Korea using Automated Endoscopic System for Optimal Positioning in June 1996. Inspired by Inbae Yoon and assisted by his generous donation, our hospital started the IB Yoon Multi-Specialty Endoscopic Research & Training Center in 1998. Subsequently in March 2005, we started the Severance Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Center. The establishment of these centers has enabled us to widen the use of laparoscopic surgery and to teach many surgeons the principles of and the techniques involved in laparoscopic and robotic surgery.We performed our first robotic surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System in July 2005. In the 4 years since introducing the da Vinci Surgical System, we have successfully performed more than 2600 robotic surgical procedures. As the collaboration between medicine and robotic engineering produces more technically advanced results, we hopefully can develop our own version of the robotic system in the near future. Asian J Endosc Surg ISSN 1758-5902 Ã This number does not include the number of robotic operations at Severance Hospital. CP, central pancreatectomy; PPPD, pylorus preserving pancreato-duodenectomy; segmental resection of body of pancreas and distal pancreatogastrostomy. W-J Lee et al. Current experiences with robotic surgery Asian J Endosc Surg 3 (2010) 8-13 r

Ten-year Experience of the da Vinci Robotic Surgery At Severance Yonsei University Hospital in Korea

“…But in our country, surgical residents who act as assistant surgeons and camera holders have not burdened high costs to the operation. Without a reimbursement system like our country, using AESOP even increases hospital costs and may possibly interfere with surgical residential training [1]. system, etc) at our new hospital and some of them are the first in Korea.…”

“…This center was a root of the present "Severance Robotic and MIS center" which was started in 2005. These infrastructures has enabled us to expand laparoscopic surgery and inspires many surgeons to understand principles and equipments of laparoscopic and robotic surgery [1].…”

“…The potential successful future recannulization procedures should be greater with this procedure. Also, even before we have started laparoscopic cholecystectomy, he has visited our school several times and had encouraged us to perform laparoscopic surgery and robotic surgery [1].…”

“…Professor Byong-Ro Kim has organized the workshop and KA Zucker (U.S.A.) was invited as a lecturer. Soon after the workshop, our hospital has started the laparoscopic surgery as one of the leading hospitals in Korea [1].…”

“…Meanwhile, several new technical devices which are commonly referred to as "automatic" or "robots" have been introduced in our hospital. We have performed the first automated surgery in Korea using the AESOP (automated endoscopic system for optimal positioning) in June, 1996, and the first robotic surgery using the da Vinci surgical system in July, 2005 [1]. During a period of 10 years after the introduction of the da Vinci system in 2005 we have performed more than 15000 cases of robotic surgery successfully.…”