Daryl marks another first in Saskatchewan surgeries
For the last 10 months Daryl has been busy.
Daryl has performed over 200 surgeries since September 2022 in the surgical subspecialties of first urology and then gynecologic oncology. Daryl, the da Vinci surgical robot at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon, has also added another Saskatchewan first with thoracic surgeries.
But Daryl can’t do this alone. It needs the team from surgeons to operating room nurses to administrators who all work together to build a successful robotics program, and more importantly improve patient outcomes and experiences.
“We are the first program in Western Canada to offer robotic thoracic surgery and our outcomes have been excellent,” said Dr. Dimitri Coutsinos, one of two thoracic surgeons trained in the robotic surgical program. “Using the robot is incredible. It’s like setting foot into the future. Very Jetsons-esque.”
Today, Daryl is nearing capacity with eight fully-trained surgeons and two additional thoracic surgeons completing training this summer.
“It’s a complete game changer… and without a doubt superior,” added Dr. Richard Bigsby, provincial head of thoracic surgery and the other surgeon trained. “It’s not actually the way of the future, it’s the way it is now – you either join the train or you stay behind.”
Gary Guran, who underwent thoracic surgery in February, was surprised at the speed of the procedure.
“I got the record I think... four hours (in surgery) and then recovery!” said Guran. “I would recommend it… with the old method they may have had to break my ribs.”
The ‘old’ method would have also seen Guran recovering in hospital for several days up to a week or more. Using the da Vinci surgical system, he was in and out of hospital in 13 hours.
“We have an opportunity to be leaders in the transition to robotic surgery in our country. We are certainly paving the way for that,” said Dr. Coutsinos.
The SHA’s da Vinci Surgical system has become one of the most successful robotic surgery launches in Canada, with the Government of Saskatchewan support of $1 million in funding to purchase of the da Vinci Surgical System.
Daryl would not be here today without the tremendous support of St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation capital campaign of $1.5 million. Daryl was named in honour of Merlis Belsher's late son, after the family generously supported the purchase with a $1.1 million gift through the foundation.
Missed learning about the robotics launch in 2022? Watch this video from November 2022 (YouTube) to hear about the experience of one of our first patients, and see our surgical team in action with ‘Daryl’. Please note this video contains graphic surgical images.
