Head and neck surgeons at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT) aim to revolutionise the use of robotic surgery to treat patients with mouth and throat cancer.
The UK’s first Phase 2 trial for this technology will take place later this year, involving around 60 cancer patients at Aintree University Hospital.
The Versius Robot, designed and built by CMR Surgical, will transform the way in which surgeons operate on head and neck cases, enabling surgeons to control the robotic instruments while sitting at an open console with a 3D HD view.
The use of this cutting-edge technology means increased capacity for procedures, as the robot can be easily moved between theatres and reduce the amount of time a surgeon needs to perform surgery.
Professor Terry Jones, Director of Liverpool Head and Neck Centre and Director of Research and Innovation for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “The Versius Robot is an exciting innovation in healthcare and I am proud that our Trust is pioneering a trial to utilise this technology in Head and Neck surgery.
“I look forward to seeing how innovative devices, such as the Versius Robot, can improve the way surgery is performed. Not only will this advancement potentially benefit patients through enabling surgical procedures to be more efficient, but also allows surgeons to use more minimally invasive techniques, reducing patient recovery time and complications. This is also an example of how Research and Innovation is helping ease the pressures on our NHS.
“Developing new and effective ways to provide better healthcare is the key aim of our Research and Innovation Team at Liverpool University Hospitals, and we will continue to develop and support new ways of delivering the best patient care.”
The trial is being led by Mr Jason Fleming, Senior Clinical Lecturer of Head and Neck Surgery, Liverpool Head & Neck Centre and Honorary Consultant Surgeon at LUHFT, who will be performing this ground-breaking surgery using the CMR Surgical robot.
Mr Fleming said: “We are excited to perform the first Phase 2 trial of this robotic technology in the UK for head and neck cancer patients.
“Building on existing data, innovative technology such as Versius will help us develop new ways to increase the efficiency and precision of surgical procedures.
“Liverpool Head and Neck Centre has a long-standing international reputation for pioneering head and neck surgical techniques and, alongside my outstanding colleagues, I look forward to evaluating this technology for its potential use more widely, helping further improve the way surgery is performed to treat patients.”