Surgeon removes lung tumor using VR headset and robotic arms

A complex lung tumor was surgically removed using a robotic system, with the surgeon controlling the procedure via a 3D virtual reality headset. Dr. Sasha Stamenkovic, a 60-year-old thoracic surgeon at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, described the operation as "very, very complex" after its completion.

During the two-hour surgery, Stamenkovic operated from a console, his hand movements translated to robotic arms equipped with surgical instruments. A fourth arm held a camera, providing a real-time, three-dimensional view of the patient's lung, which was also displayed on screens in the operating room. This advanced technology allowed for the preservation of significant portions of the lung, navigating around delicate blood vessels and airways.

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Today we have carried out a very, very complex intervention

Stamenkovic, who also directs robotic surgery research at Barts Health NHS Trust, is training future surgeons on the Da Vinci 5 system. This technology is set to be permanently integrated into his operating room later this year as part of a national strategy to increase the use of robotics in minimally invasive surgery within the UK's public healthcare system. The government's ambitious goal is to have robotic assistance employed in nine out of every ten such procedures in England by 2035.

The Da Vinci 5 system's high-precision robotic arms are particularly suited for operating through small incisions, offering greater dexterity than human hands. This enhanced precision is expected to reduce the risk of complications, such as air leaks, which are a known concern after pulmonary surgery. Ian Macleod, 76, was the first NHS patient to undergo lung cancer surgery using this advanced robotic system.

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We have preserved a large part of the lung, navigating around really very small blood vessels and airways