Queensland hospital launches next-gen surgery

A high-tech newcomer has arrived at Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Brisbane, ushering in a bold chapter of innovation for Metro South Health.

This da Vinci Xi surgical system, developed by Intuitive Surgical and distributed by Device Technologies, gives surgeons the ability to perform complex, minimally invasive procedures with remarkable control, agility, and precision.

Its arrival is set to be a game-changer for QEII’s surgical teams, particularly in urology, gynaecology, and general surgery – areas that have accounted for a striking 79% of the hospital’s elective surgeries from 2023 to 2025.

The debut procedure took place on 30 April, when Dr Khuong Nguyen and Dr Joshua Grundy led QEII’s inaugural robotic-assisted rectopexy.

“We’re using the da Vinci Xi surgical system for the first time here at QEII,” said Dr Nguyen. “This robot will enable us to complete more complex colorectal operations, and our Urologists will be able to use it for robotic prostatectomies, which is now the gold standard for most prostate operations. It’s very exciting to be able to offer this technology to the QEII community.”

For Dr Nguyen, the da Vinci system represents a quantum leap in both surgical finesse and patient care.

“From a surgical perspective, there’s much more dexterity that we’re able to achieve with the help of this instrument. The tips are smaller, which allows us to get into spaces we couldn’t reach laparoscopically,” he explained.

“In the open era, patients would stay in hospital for three to five days post-op. In the laparoscopic era, they’d be staying for one to two days. With the robot, patients can potentially go home the same day as their surgical procedure.”

Patients stand to also benefit from reduced pain, fewer complications, quicker recovery times, and minimal scarring – significant gains for both individual health outcomes and system-wide efficiency.

As QEII’s Capacity Expansion Program takes shape – with 112 new beds and increased surgical capacity on the horizon by late 2027 – the da Vinci Xi is also set to redefine how future surgeons are trained.

“Many of us have practised robotic surgery at other facilities, and now we look forward to building it into the surgical program at QEII,” said Dr Nguyen. “Our hope is to train the next generation of surgeons here and attract more talent by offering access to the latest technology.”

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