Russia has developed a unique technology of radio navigation surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer without damage to lymphatic vessels. VIDEO

2024

Russia has developed a unique technology of radio navigation surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer without damage to lymphatic vessels

On October 8, 2024, Russian specialists from Sechenov University announced the development of a unique technology of radio navigation surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. It is used to reduce the risks of postoperative complications in patients who undergo pelvic lymphadenectomy - removal of lymph nodes.

The new technique was developed by employees of the Institute of Urology and Human Reproductive Health of Sechenov University in conjunction with the Department of Radioisotope Diagnostics. It is noted that when removing lymph nodes in the pelvic region, there is a high risk of damaging the lymph vessels that come from the lower extremities. It is this that can cause such postoperative complications as lymphocele - the formation of lymphatic fluid, dehydrated in the pelvic region, and swelling of the lower extremities. This significantly reduces the quality of life of patients and creates the need for re-hospitalization followed by drainage.

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To prevent such complications and reduce the risk of damage to lymphatic vessels belonging to the lower extremities, urologists have introduced the technique of radio navigation surgery. During the procedure, the image in high quality is displayed on the monitor. During the operation, the Da Vinci robotic surgical system is used.

Before the intervention, a radioisotope lymphotropic preparation is administered to the patient in order to visualize lymphoproteins and preserve them using special sensors during the operation. Thanks to this approach, the number of complications after surgery is reduced and the length of rehabilitation is reduced. The radiation load for patients during the procedure, as noted, is minimal - less than one X-ray.^[1]

Coronary artery bypass grafting with a robot. The chest barely opens

Russian surgeons began to carry out coronary artery bypass grafting with the help of, robot surgeon da Vinci practically without opening the patient's chest. The first such operation was successfully performed at the cardiovascular surgery clinic Sechenov University in July 2024.

The new technique allows intervention through a small incision measuring only a few centimeters. This significantly reduces the trauma of surgery compared to the traditional approach, which requires a full chest autopsy.

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According to Roman Komarov, director of the clinic of cardiovascular surgery at Sechenov University, minimally invasive technique does not require sawing of the chest bones. He clarified that in fact, these are several punctures that need to heal for only a few days.

The first patient to undergo robotic coronary artery bypass surgery was a 65-year-old man diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Before the operation, he was in severe pain and could walk no more than 200 meters without rest.

One artery was closed, in connection with which a heart attack occurred. And the second artery had critical stenosis. Without surgical treatment, a second heart attack awaited him and there could be a rather unfavorable outcome, "said Oleg Ognev, cardiovascular surgeon at the Sechenov University Clinical Center.

Coronary artery bypass grafting is an operation in which a vessel is taken from the patient's subcutaneous veins or internal thoracic artery and sewn into the damaged artery of the heart, bypassing the site of blockage or constriction. The use of a robotic system minimizes injury to the bone skeleton and soft tissues during the intervention, which significantly speeds up the recovery process.

Previously, such high-tech operations in the field of cardiovascular surgery were performed only in several cardiocenters of the world. Now this advanced technology has become available to Russian patients.^[2]

2019: Surgery to remove kidney tumour

On August 16, 2019 Ministry of Health RUSSIAN FEDERATION , he reported that doctors oncological of the urology department of the Institute of Urology and Human Reproductive Health Sechenov University performed surgery to remove a tumor of a single kidney using the robotic system. da Vinci

Cancer of the only kidney is not a rare diagnosis in the practice of doctors in the oncology department. Often, especially if the tumor is large or centrally located, patients are denied surgery, as there is a high risk of removing the entire kidney, developing acute renal failure and performing hemodialysis. In addition, not many medical institutions have the necessary technical capabilities to perform such operations.

Thus, a 68-year-old patient with a tumor of 5 cm, located in the center of the kidney, turned to the Institute of Urology and Human Reproductive Health. At the place of residence, the patient was denied surgery.

Specialists of Sechenov University conducted a computer simulation of the tumor process, which made it possible to study the anatomy of the tumor and its ratio to the vessels and the calf-pelvis system of the kidney. The complexity of the upcoming operation according to special scales was rated as high as possible.

To remove such kidney formations at Sechenov University, the da Vinci robotic system is successfully used, which helps the surgeon perform operations as delicately as possible. Intraoperative three-dimensional image allows removing the tumor without vascular damage, while maintaining the maximum amount of functioning renal tissue, which allows avoiding renal failure both immediately after surgery and in the distant postoperative period.

Such technologies provide the possibility of performing organ-preserving operations (resections, enucleations of the kidney) even in very difficult clinical situations, when at first glance this is not possible. Five small incisions are enough to remove the tumor, preserve the kidney and save the patient from cancer,

The operation was successful, the kidney was preserved, moreover, its function was not impaired. The patient was discharged home from the clinic on the fifth day, feels good.

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