Medtronic plc (NYSE: MDT), a world leader in medical technology, announced today that the first colorectal procedures were performed with the Hugo ™ Robotic Surgery System (RAS) at Hospital Pacifica Salud in Panama City, Panama. The colorectal cases included a left colectomy and cecectomy, as well as a cholecystectomy under the indication of general surgery, performed last week by doctors: Dr. Homero Rodríguez and Dr. Moises Cukier.
“Being able to use the Hugo ™ RAS System in general surgery provides me with a new minimally invasive treatment option for my patients, including those requiring hernia surgery, gallbladder removal, or colorectal resection,” said Dr. Rodríguez.
In Latin America many patients lack access to minimally invasive treatment options. As a reference, of all the surgeries currently performed in the region1:
• ~ 70-75% are open procedures
• ~ 25% are minimally invasive surgery (MIS) procedures
• Less than 1% are done with the help of a robot
Robot-assisted surgery offers the benefit of minimally invasive surgery, including fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and faster return to normal activities2–4, †; however, adoption has been stifled by historical costs and utilization barriers. Medtronic designed the Hugo ™ RAS System to change that, so that more patients have access to the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.
“As surgeons, we are in a constant search to take advantage of the most innovative technologies available to our patients, such as Hugo ™. I am confident that robotic assisted surgery systems will continue to grow as a key ally of the surgeon in the operating room, ”said Dr. Cukier.
Pacifica Salud made history earlier this year when it became one of the first hospitals in the world to use the Hugo ™ RAS System and the first in the world to use it in a gynecological procedure.
“At Pacifica Salud, we are proud to continue to be at the forefront of the development of this new era of medical technology,” said Mr. Rafael Cohen, Executive Director of Pacifica Salud. “That is made possible by Hugo, our partnership with Medtronic, and our talented team at Pacifica Salud.”
“Medtronic Panama is proud to be a key player in the development of robotic surgery around the world,” said Ana Claudia Álvarez, Medtronic Country Leader in Panama. “We are aware of the crucial role we play for Latin America in the process of adopting medical technology, and we are grateful to have strong healthcare partners, such as Pacifica Salud, who share our bold vision for the future and our strong commitment to the patients. “
A modular multi-quadrant platform designed for a wide range of surgical procedures, the Hugo RAS system combines wrist instruments, 3D visualization, and a cloud-based surgical video capture option in Touch Surgery ™ Enterprise with dedicated support teams that specialize in optimizing robotics, service and training programs.
The Hugo RAS system is commercially available in select geographies. The regulatory requirements of each country and region will determine the approval, authorization or availability in the market. In the EU, the Hugo RAS system is CE marked. In the US, the Hugo RAS system is an investigative device that is not for sale. Touch Surgery Enterprise is not intended to direct surgery or to aid in the diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition.
