We pioneered robotic surgery in the public system in Victoria. This started when we installed our first system, a da Vinci® S HD (Hospital Doctor) in 2010. We are the only Victorian hospital with the latest dual console da Vinci Xi©. This innovative technology lets our surgeons perform complex surgery through keyhole incisions. This reduces morbidity and hospital stay when compared to conventional open surgery. we are one of the few public hospitals in Australia to offer such surgery. We have an internationally-recognised robotic surgery program with many academic presentations, publications, grants, and media contributions from our team of leading robotic surgeons.
Referrals
We accept referrals from GPs or specialists for Australian patients. We usually see new patients within a week or two. The waiting list for surgery is less than three months.
There are no fees for patients undergoing robotic surgery with us.
For more information on getting referred, see Getting started with Peter Mac.
About robotic surgery
We often refer to the da Vinci® Xi surgical system as a robot. It is a surgical system that helps complex laparoscopic (or “keyhole”) surgical procedures. It is not capable of independent movement. Instead, it responds to the surgeon’s commands through an advanced remote-control system.
The surgeon sits at one of two consoles in the corner of the operating theatre. They view live three-dimensional images of the patient’s inner anatomy. The robot is above the patient. It deploys its telescope and instruments inside the body through very small incisions. The surgeon manipulates cameras and miniature instruments using hand and foot controls. These instruments are deep inside the patient’s body. This set-up lets us perform precise and delicate surgery through tiny incisions.
Uses of robotic surgery
We reserve such surgery for complex procedures. This applies to many cancer surgeries. Robotic assisted radical prostatectomy is the world's most often performed robotic surgery procedure. This is now one of the most popular surgical approaches for men with localised prostate cancer. Open surgery for prostate cancer has declined a lot. Robotic surgery is now the most popular approach for prostate cancer in Victoria. We perform more radical prostatectomies than any other public hospital in Victoria.
Other procedures that we perform using robotic assisted surgery include:
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removal of small kidney cancers (robotic partial nephrectomy)
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removal of the kidney and/or ureter (robotic nephrectomy/nephro-ureterectomy)
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surgery for colo-rectal cancer
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surgery for gynaecology cancers
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head and neck cancer surgery
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removal of tumours within the chest
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surgery for stomach and oesophageal cancers.
Robotic surgery at Peter Mac
We receive generous philanthropic funding through the Peter Mac Foundation. This funding let us install a da Vinci® S HD surgical system in 2010. Victorian public patients now have access to this system for the first time.
In 2017, we installed a dual console da Vinci Xi© system. This was again thanks to the generosity of donors to the Peter Mac Foundation.
This is the most advanced robotic surgical system in Australia. It includes the following features:
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four arm robotic surgery cart using 8mm robotic surgery instruments
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dual console system allowing two surgeons to operate
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three dimensional high-definition visualisation
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FireflyTM fluorescence-guided visualisation
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virtual reality simulator
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integrated operating table using Table MotionTM technology.
We receive acclaim for our training . The European Association of Urology has appointed us as a Robotic Surgery Centre. We are the only hospital outside Europe to have this appointment.
Associate Professor Declan Murphy is our Consultant Urologist and Director of Genitourinary Oncology. Declan directs the Program. He is an internationally-recognised world leader in robotic surgery and prostate cancer.
We performed the first robotic prostatectomy in the public system in July 2010. We have since expanded the program to include many other surgical procedure types. We have performed thousands of robotic surgeries. We are the highest volume robotic surgery centre in the public system in Australia. Our experienced surgeons now offer this service for patients across five tumour streams. These include:
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Cancer stream |
Cancer types |
Surgeons |
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Genitourinary oncology |
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Colorectal oncology:
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Thoracic oncology |
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Head and neck oncology |
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Gynae-oncology: |
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Upper gastrointestinal oncology |
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Peter Mac’s robotic-assisted surgery in ABC documentary series “Keeping Australia Alive”
Robotic prostatectomy explained
Robotic radical prostatectomy explained | Professor Declan Murphy