The first robotic pediatric surgery in Sassari

First robotic pediatric surgery intervention at the AOU of Sassari.

The Da Vinci multiport robot was used for the operation performed on a child of almost eight years old and was successfully completed .

The surgery corrected a bilateral defect of the abdominal wall of the little patient who, thanks to the minimally invasive approach, was discharged the same day without any complications. "This surgery - says the director of Pediatric and Neonatal Surgery, Professor Francesco Saverio Camoglio - marks an important step forward for pediatric surgery at our company, and offers young patients the possibility of a rapid and safe recovery".

The intervention represents the pinnacle of a training course lasting approximately four months thanks to which the Sassari surgical team has acquired skills through the use of the on-site robotic simulator and attendance at national centers of excellence, such as the Federico II University of Naples and the Training Center of Turin, specific for pediatric robotics.

"With the arrival of the new director of Pediatric Surgery in August, in eight months we have been able to give new impetus to the surgical activity dedicated to children - adds the general director of the Aou of Sassari, Antonio Lorenzo Spano -. Now, the use of robotics in pediatrics, the first case in Sardinia, represents a further step forward in the specialization of our surgeons and significantly improves the healthcare offered to the entire population , in line with our corporate mission. Which sees us committed to ensuring the highest possible levels of health, putting the patient at the center of the treatment path and the services offered".

The Da Vinci multiport, currently used by the University Hospital of Sassari, is an effective option for several pediatric pathologies, especially those involving the urogenital system, the gastrointestinal system and the abdominal wall. With the three-dimensional vision and advanced mobility of the robotic instruments, the surgeon can operate with greater precision than traditional laparoscopy, optimizing the quality of the intervention and reducing recovery times . But its use is not applicable to all young patients.

"The robot can be used in patients over two years of age - explains Camoglio - for certain pathologies and in portions of the operating field where classic laparoscopic surgery is difficult. It is important to say this, because in the pediatric field the robot still does not completely replace minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery".