THE ONLY ROBOTIC SURGERY CENTER IN MACEDONIA, KOSOVO AND ALBANIA 

The first surgery using the MedBot Toumai® robotic system was successfully performed at Acıbadem Sistina Hospital, officially starting a new era of advanced, precise and minimally invasive surgery at the hospital, in the country and throughout the region.

A 57-year-old patient underwent a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with robot-assisted laparoscopic lymphadenectomy. It is a complex surgery for treatment of prostate cancer that with the assistance of the robotic system was performed with exceptional precision and maximum control at every step of the intervention.

The urology team was led by Prof. Sotir Stavridis, MD, PhD, a urology specialist, and the procedure involved urologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians and nursing assistants. Thanks to their thorough preparation, professionalism and impeccable coordination, the surgery completed successfully and proceeded exactly as planned.

The patient is in good general health, and the postoperative course and recovery are proceeding as expected. This historic achievement is the result of the continuous commitment by Acibadem Sistina Hospital to provide patients with the latest medical innovations and healthcare services as per the highest world standards. The introduction of robotic surgery represents a significant step forward not only for the hospital but also for the advancement of Macedonian healthcare.

The robotic system does not perform the surgery independently. Every movement of the instruments is fully controlled by the surgeon, who operates the system via a specialized console. The robot transmits the surgeon's movements with exceptional precision, enabling stable and detailed work even in anatomically difficult-to-reach regions. The high-resolution three-dimensional imaging provides the surgeon with a multiple magnified and clear presentation of the surgical field.

Prof. Sotir Stavridis, MD, PhD, explains that this minimally invasive approach allows for greater patient safety and significantly faster recovery.

"The implementation of this sophisticated technology opens up fascinating opportunities for us - it allows us to operate with outstanding microscopic precision and perform exceptionally complex surgical procedures. At the same time, the minimally invasive approach ensures maximum patient safety and significantly faster recovery. The procedure proceeded flawlessly and completely according to the planned course, which is a direct result of the thorough preparation and excellent coordination by the entire surgical team", said Prof. Sotir Stavridis, MD, PhD, a urology specialist.

Aleksandar Mickovski, MD, participated in the surgery performance as well, as part of the team of urologists involved in the intervention.

"It is the greatest challenge of modern urology, the use of robotics in performing such complex and advanced surgical procedures", said Aleksandar Mickovski, MD.

Emilija Mirchevska, MD, the Medical Director of Acibadem Sistina Hospital, led the team of anesthesiologists who participated in the surgery.

For Mirchevska, MD, the successful completion of the first robot-assisted surgery represents a historically significant moment for the hospital. She expressed great gratitude to all members of the medical team for their professionalism, dedication and hard work, which made this important medical achievement possible.

"We are proud to be able to offer advanced surgical care to our patients and make modern medical technologies accessible to all patients. As an anesthesiologist, it was a great honor and professional pride for me to be part of the first robot-assisted surgical procedure at our hospital. Anesthesia in robotic surgery has its own specifics, requiring precise preparation, careful monitoring and management of all potential physiological changes, resulting from the patient's position during surgery and the insufflation of carbon dioxide. Such procedures require a high level of coordination and continuous communication among all members of the surgical team. This achievemnt is proof that we have the knowledge, experience and capacity to apply the most modern medical technologies”, explains Mirchevska, MD.

Robot-assisted surgery represents a revolutionary advancement in modern urology. Thanks to three-dimensional HD-visualization, enhanced precision and flexibility of instruments - which surpass the natural range of human hand motion - robotic technology enables extremely precise dissection while maximizing preservation of vital anatomical structures. For patients, this approach offers smaller surgical incisions, less blood loss, reduced postoperative pain, a lower risk of complications, a shorter hospitalization, faster recovery and return to daily activities, as well as greater precision in preserving surrounding nerves, blood vessels and tissues.

The introduction of the robotic system is not only a technological advance, but the beginning of a completely new chapter in the daily surgical practice of Acibadem Sistina Hospital.

Acibadem Sistina Hospital will continue to invest in innovative medical technologies, knowledge and continuous education of its medical teams in the future, with a clear purpose – to provide better, safer and more effective treatment and the best possible outcome for each patient. As the application of this technology continues to expand, robot-assisted surgery is expected to become the new gold standard in the treatment of an increasing number of patients and for performing the most complex surgical procedures.