Surrey Memorial adds robotic surgery system for minimally invasive cancer treatment

Surrey Memorial Hospital received a robotic surgery system on Jan. 6 that allows surgeons to perform complex cancer procedures with greater precision and smaller incisions than traditional surgery.

The da Vinci Xi system, which was unpacked and calibrated earlier this month, will remain in a temporary location while renovations are completed on its permanent operating room. It's the second such system in Fraser Health, following one installed at Royal Columbian Hospital last fall.

The technology allows surgeons seated at a console to control robotic arms that perform laparoscopic surgery with enhanced precision. A 3D high-definition vision system provides ultra-clear views of patient anatomy during procedures.

"With the aid of the da Vinci Xi system we can expand minimally invasive thoracic and foregut surgery, and we can do operations with greater precision and accuracy," said Dr. Ahmad Ashrafi, regional division head and chief of thoracic surgery for Fraser Health. "Patients may experience quicker recovery times and we can carry out more complex procedures right here in Surrey, using minimally invasive techniques."

Patients requiring ENT and thoracic surgeries—including procedures on the lungs, chest, esophagus, and stomach—will be the first to benefit. Those previously referred outside Fraser Health for specialized care will now be able to receive treatment at Surrey Memorial Hospital.

More precise cancer treatment

The technology is expected to significantly improve outcomes for patients with hard-to-reach cancers. Dr. Oleksandr (Alex) Butskiy, a surgeon at Surrey Memorial Hospital, explained how the system will change treatment for throat cancers.

"For hard-to-reach throat cancers we often have to cut a patient's jaw to remove the tumour," Butskiy said. "With da Vinci, we can do the surgery in a more minimally invasive way with the smallest incisions possible, leading to better recovery and fewer visible signs of surgery."

The system will also help remove tumours and treat cancers more effectively across a range of thoracic procedures, doctors say.

Beyond improved patient outcomes, the advanced technology is expected to help Surrey Memorial Hospital attract and retain top surgical talent, according to Dr. Ashrafi.

Community-funded investment

The robotic surgery system was made possible through donations to the Surrey Hospitals Foundation, which funded the equipment and supporting infrastructure.

"This advancement in surgical care for Surrey is possible thanks to generous gifts to the Surrey Hospitals Foundation," said Cindy Laukkanen, executive director of Surgery and Anesthesia Networks at Fraser Health. "I would like to thank the Foundation and donors in our community who have brought this wonderful technology to Surrey."

The addition of the second da Vinci Xi system positions Fraser Health to expand robotic surgery capabilities across the region, bringing specialized care closer to home for patients in Surrey and surrounding communities.