Currently, only 3% of surgeries worldwide are performed robotically, despite offering patients the benefits of minimally invasive surgery .
Currently, in Urology, we have two surgical robots: Da Vinci and Hugo-RAS . The former, manufactured by Intuitive, arrived in Spain in 2005, and in 2007, we began operating with it in our Unit, becoming pioneers and leaders in our country, with more than 1.000 procedures performed to date. The Hugo-RAS robotic system, from Medtronic, was launched a year later with the aim of increasing the use of robotic surgery and making it more accessible to hospitals, surgeons, and patients. At ROC Clinic, we have performed more than 60 surgeries with this robot since September 2022.
With these acquisitions, we are one of the few centers in the world that has both robot models, which occupy the same niche, creating healthy competition that drives improvements in both systems.
The addition of Hugo-RAS to our therapeutic arsenal has been revolutionary. With it, we have moved to complete robotization of the operating room , allowing us to address virtually all urological pathologies with greater efficiency.
The modular design of the Hugo-RAS system allows us to control the robot's arms individually, using them according to surgical needs, achieving a greater range of motion and increased versatility. Furthermore, the open console not only allows for constant and direct communication with the other professionals at the operating table, but also provides high-definition vision and enhanced precision. Additionally, the surgeon benefits from improved posture during the procedure, minimizing the fatigue inherent in surgeries of this nature.
Hugo is a robot that combines wrist instruments, 3D visualization, and a cloud-based surgical video recording option that allows procedures to be recorded securely and data to be collected for analysis, as well as to improve surgical technique.
Advantages of robotic surgery for the patient
In Urology, we use robotic surgery to treat prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, excision of abdominal lymph nodes in cases of testicular cancer or other retroperitoneal tumors, pelvic organ prolapse, or dilation of the renal pelvis.
In addition to achieving greater precision in these interventions, robotic surgery improves the patient's functional outcomes by preserving, in most cases, continence and male sexual function.
Furthermore, these surgeries involve shorter surgical time, less intraoperative bleeding, faster hospital discharge, and a less painful and faster post-operative recovery.
It is a minimally invasive, safe, and precise procedure that is less traumatic for the patient. Ultimately, we achieve better results with fewer complications.
At ROC Clinic, technology is in our DNA, and we stay up-to-date with all the medical and technological advancements that allow us to offer the best treatments to our patients with the least possible disruption to their quality of life. In this respect, robotic surgery has truly been groundbreaking.
Our training in robotic surgery
All surgeons who operate using robotic robots have completed the official training programs of the companies that market them and have been accredited. To achieve this, we have fulfilled a minimum number of mandatory training hours to guarantee the highest quality, even for highly experienced surgeons.
In these training sessions, everything is strictly protocolized and follows rigorous safety guidelines. For this reason, we conduct numerous simulations of all processes and simulate critical events and potential material failures to identify possible errors and ensure we are prepared for them.
Having extensive experience in open surgery or endoscopic surgery, as is our case, greatly helps to get the most out of the robot and allows you to shorten the learning curve to become a competent robotic surgeon.
We are a training center in robotic surgery
The arrival of this robot in our operating rooms has also led us to become a robotic surgery training center , offering training programs for urologists both nationally and internationally. In addition to conducting this course at our own centers, we also travel to other hospitals to teach and assist in the implementation of this surgical program.
It is important to be good surgeons, with a proven track record and who have performed many surgeries and dealt with many complications, as is the case with our team.
