Da Vinci gives Institute of Urology a special aura

NST: The Institute of Urology has made history of sorts in robotic surgery. Since 2004, it has performed more than 100 cases of robotic surgery.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the institute was the first in the world to perform complex stone surgery, especially nephrolithotomy, using the robot.
"It is the first in Asia to do donor nephrectomy and perform a series of nephrectomies for non-functioning kidneys," he said at the launch of the two-day International Conference on Robotic Surgery at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
He said a series of robotic radical prostatectomies performed by the institute were published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The Health Ministry acquired two three-arm da Vinci robots costing RM10.6 million, with the first robot installed at the institute in March 2004 and the second at Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Baru, in June last year.
Dr Chua said the acquisition marked a significant milestone in the history of the institute, which served as the centre of excellence and national referral centre for minimally invasive surgery.
"The setting up of the Operational Theatre with 3-dimensional (3D) view is the second in the world, the only other place with a similar facility being the Vattikuti Urology Institute in Detroit," he said.
Malaysia, he added, was also the first in the world to have 3D as a permanent feature in the lecture theatre for regular viewing by delegates and participants in Continuing Medical Education programmes.
The person behind the Urology Operation Theatre is Datuk Dr Sahabudin Raja Mohamed, head of the urology department.
Dr Sahabudin is also the president of the Malaysian Urological Association.
Dr Chua said the 3D theatre would help in the training of robotic surgeons.
He also pointed out that this was the first conference in the Asia-Pacific region to provide 3D facility, and this would remain a permanent feature for future laparoscopic and robotic surgery conferences.
World renowned urologist Professor Dr Mani Menon and his team provided their expertise in setting up these facilities.