Leeds cancer patient among the first to have 'cutting edge' robotic equipment assist with tumour removal
A Leeds cancer patient who became one of the first to undergo surgery with the assistance of new robotic technology has said it was “brilliant to be at the forefront of such a cutting-edge treatment”.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) has become the first hospital trust outside of London to use the latest, state-of-the-art technology to treat liver and kidney cancers.
The new Epione robotic guidance system enables precise, minimally invasive removal of tumours through robot-assistance; allowing clinicians to accurately locate and destroy cancerous tissue without the need for traditional surgery.
Epione’s robotic arm is being used by clinical teams to carefully place needles which destroy tumours by freezing or burning, which the trust says results in fewer risks and shorter recovery times.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has so far treated 20 patients with the innovation, one of which was Paul Woodwards, 67, from Leeds, who underwent the procedure to treat liver cancer.
The tumour in his liver was broken down using the robot-guided procedure and he was able to be home within four days with minimal discomfort. He will now be monitored for up to 10 years to see if the cancer has been successfully treated.
He said: “I feel very lucky to have been offered this procedure. It was brilliant to be at the forefront of such a cutting-edge treatment. I was happy to be able to come home and recover within such a short space of time without needing to have a long hospital stay.
“The staff have been absolutely wonderful, every member of the team has looked after me, checking up on me and reassuring me through my recovery afterwards. I am hopeful that other patients and families facing a cancer diagnosis will be able to benefit from this technology and to have more accurate treatments in the future.”
Dr James Lenton, Vascular and Interventional Oncology Radiology Consultant whose teams are using Epione said: “At LTHT we have an excellent record of offering innovations that improve treatments for patients. The Epione robotic system offers us the ability to effectively treat our cancer patients without the disruption that comes with surgery and significantly improve their experience.
“The system facilitates minimally invasive treatment which supports shorter hospital stays, reduces disruption to patients’ wellbeing, and allows the Trust to manage more cases.
“The system will allow us to expand the number of patients who are suitable for ablation and shorten procedure times.”
Epione was developed and provided by Quantum Surgical, a company specialising in robotics and AI based in Miami, Florida, and Montpellier, France.
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The LTHT clinical team is investigating expanding Epione’s use to treat pancreatic and lung cancers in the future.
This is the latest modern treatment adopted by LTHT, which has led on innovation in this type of minimally invasive procedure.
The Interventional Radiology team previously used the Edison system as part of the global-first CAIN trial, using non-invasive ultrasound to eradicate tumours.
The Trust recently unveiled its new Research and Innovation Strategy which aims to help it meet the government’s targets to harness the latest medical technology to reduce waiting times and get patients home sooner.