Cutting Edge Careers Advice

Two aspiring doctors from our Lower Sixth were treated to a fascinating insight into robotic surgery at the Royal Berkshire Hospital on Thursday 28th February.

Visiting the Royal Berkshire Hospital the pair were shown footage of robotic surgery in action as well as the equipment used to undertake life-changing cancer surgery.

Ahmer was enthusiastic about his afternoon describing it as “an incredible and very rare experience using Intuitive Surgical’s Da Vinci Surgical Robot.” Reflecting on the day he said “It was great to have a glimpse at the future of medicine and surgery in the technological paradigm and it only consolidated my passion for medicine. We met Mr Philip Charlesworth who showed us footage of a tumour resection from the sigmoid colon, it then was truly apparent the impact that robotic surgery has had on patient outcomes, for example it helped to: minimise venous bleeding via pressurising the abdominal cavity and peritoneum, protect the patient from bowl perforation which could potentially lead to peritonitis through the increased dexterity of the robot as well as magnification and motion scaling in addition to tremor filtering which is particularly important in the fine dissection of adhesions and tissues. We then got an opportunity to use “Robbie” the surgical robot (as named by the staff at the RBH) in a suturing simulation, it was different to traditional suturing but also felt oddly familiar but the limitations of simulations were apparent, especially when tying off the suture where it continually slipped through the arm. Moreover, I was truly fascinated by the technology and power of the system and have decided to peruse and EPQ on a related application of technology in bronchoscopies.”

Adriana added, “I found it very interesting and inspiring. It reinforced my interest in medicine, I was truly amazed at how traditional treatments in surgery have been improved through the use of modern technology. “