Medical history made in KZN

History was made at the Netcare Umhlanga Hospital, north of Durban yesterday when a doctor operated on a patient for the first time in the province using the system. 

Dr Marius Conradie performed the radical prostatectomy to remove the patient's cancerous prostate.

"What we do is we attach the robot, which is called da Vinci, to the patient. The robot has five arms and has got very unique instruments that go into the patient. 

"Via fibre optic cable it's linked to a console. I sit at the console which five metres away and steer the robot through this fibre optic cable," he said.

Doctor Conradie who has received a number of national and international awards in recognition of his work over the years, was assisted by Dr Venter.

The patient is doing well and is expected to be home within 2-3 days. 

Meanwhile, hospital manager, Marc van Heerden has described the operation as a resounding success:

"We have two more cases scheduled for today. I'm humbled by the fact that we can deliver first world medicine state of the art [procedures] to the community of KZN," he said. 

(Photos: Chanelle Lutchman)