Vietnamese doctors perform country's first robotic cancer surgery using two US surgical robots

The landmark procedure was performed in a modern hybrid operating room at Tam Anh General Hospital. Assoc. Prof. Vu Le Chuyen, MD, PhD - Director of the Center for Urology, Nephrology & Andrology, and Le Phuc Lien, MD, PhD - Head of the Female Urology Unit, two leading robotic surgery specialists in urology, worked together within the same operative field from two independent consoles.

From one console, Assoc. Prof. Chuyen controlled three robotic arms to completely dissect the prostate tumor. Meanwhile, from the second console, Dr. Lien controlled the remaining robotic arm to assist with tissue retraction, blood vessel control, preservation of nerve structures, and bladder reconstruction. The two surgeons worked in parallel within the same operative field, rather than taking over from each other in sequence as in the conventional Single Console robotic surgery model.

As a result, the operating time for Doan was reduced from 150-180 minutes to approximately 40 minutes. The shorter procedure reduced anesthesia time and blood loss, minimized tissue trauma, and supported faster recovery.

One day after surgery, the patient was able to sit up, eat and walk normally, and was discharged after three days.

Manufactured by Intuitive Surgical from the U.S., the Da Vinci Xi is one of the most advanced robotic surgery platforms available today. It is recognized by the U.S. FDA and has been used in more than 20 million surgical procedures involving over 120 types of cancers and complex conditions. The Dual Console technique was introduced by the manufacturer in 2009. This technology requires highly advanced equipment infrastructure, a team of highly skilled surgeons, and highly standardized operating processes. As a result, it has only been implemented at a limited number of major surgical centers in the U.S., Europe, and other developed countries.

In Vietnam, Tam Anh General Hospital is the first and only facility to own two Da Vinci Xi 'super robots' and to have successfully implemented two challenging robotic surgery techniques: Dual Console and Single-site. These techniques are used to treat complex cancers and difficult medical conditions, ranging from prostate, kidney and colorectal cancers to cardiovascular, thoracic and gynecological conditions.

Following the successful implementation of the Single-site technique in July, Assoc. Prof. Chuyen and the Tam Anh surgical team continued to master Dual Console, one of the most complex techniques available on the Da Vinci Xi platform. While the Single-site technique minimizes invasiveness through a single incision of just 2-2.5 cm, Dual Console takes robotic surgery to a new level by allowing two specialists to control the robots simultaneously within the same operative field. The technique reduces operating time by more than 70 percent, enhances procedural safety, and optimizes treatment outcomes for patients.

According to Assoc. Prof. Chuyen, the most significant difference with Dual Console is not simply the addition of a second control console, but the ability to combine the experience and expertise of multiple specialists during a single operation. This enables rapid management of multiple lesions in complex anatomical areas, maximum preservation of healthy tissue, reduced blood loss and post-operative pain, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and improved quality of life, particularly for cancer patients.

This approach is particularly suitable for elderly patients, those with multiple underlying medical conditions or those with multiple complex diseases. In the long term, specialists in urology, gastrointestinal surgery, gynecology, general surgery, and hepatobiliary surgery may be able to work together to treat multiple lesions during a single operation, reducing the number of surgeries and episodes of general anesthesia while shortening the overall treatment process.

Assoc. Prof. Chuyen said that to master advanced robotic surgery techniques, Tam Anh General Hospital invested hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in the two new-generation Da Vinci Xi systems and supporting equipment. The hospital has also developed comprehensive high-tech infrastructure across multiple subspecialties, bringing together experts from various fields and a strong surgical team comprising 12 experienced robotic surgery teams across four specialties. Operating room procedures are standardized, while the entire system of anesthesia and critical care, nursing, and robotic technicians operates according to international standards.

After more than a year of operating the Da Vinci Xi systems, Tam Anh General Hospital has reached a record of nearly 500 multidisciplinary robotic surgeries, with a success rate approaching 100 percent. Demand for robotic surgery continues to increase, with operating schedules at times booked one to two months in advance.

Beyond investing in the two Da Vinci Xi robots, Tam Anh General Hospital has also established a comprehensive high-tech ecosystem to support diagnosis and treatment. The hospital has brought together world-leading modern systems, including the Modus V Synaptive neurosurgical robot, the Cuvis-Joint joint replacement robot, the Artis Pheno cardiovascular intervention system, AI powered CT and MRI systems, laboratory and pathology systems, and the advanced Versa HD radiotherapy system.

Alongside its technology investments, the hospital has developed facilities that meet European standards, from operating rooms to inpatient treatment areas. Doctors, nurses, and customer care staff are able to communicate in multiple languages and provide support with legal procedures, insurance and medical records, making it easier for overseas Vietnamese and international patients to undergo treatment in Vietnam with peace of mind.

Each year, Tam Anh General Hospital attracts thousands of overseas Vietnamese and international patients from the U.S., the UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and other countries for medical examinations and treatment.

"We came to Tam Anh General Hospital because we can access technology and medical expertise comparable to those at major centers, at a much lower cost," said Donald, a 67-year-old from Canada, who traveled to Vietnam for prostate cancer surgery.

With robotic surgery costs starting at approximately US$3,000, roughly one-tenth of the cost in the United States and significantly lower than in many other countries in the region, Vietnam is increasingly well positioned to become an attractive destination for international patients seeking high-tech care while combining treatment with tourism.