South Korean hospitals expand robotic surgery capabilities

South Korean medical institutions are expanding their capabilities in robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery.

Korea University Guro Hospital announced that its Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has surpassed 2,000 robotic surgery cases. Since its first procedure in 2016, the department has expanded its scope to include uterine fibroids, ovarian and tubal diseases, hysterectomies, pelvic organ prolapse, and gynecological cancers. Notably, the single-port robotic system, SP, accounts for 61.1% of these procedures. The hospital has also been designated as a ‘Single-Port (SP) Gynecological Robotic Surgery Training Center’ by Intuitive Surgical to educate domestic and international medical professionals.

Separately, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital has introduced the Da Vinci SP single-port robotic surgery system to complement its existing Revo-i platform. This addition allows the hospital to offer more customized minimally invasive options based on a patient's specific condition and surgical site. The hospital, which has performed over 230,000 surgeries across various departments, aims to utilize these dual platforms to reduce scarring, pain, and bleeding while accelerating patient recovery.