In Israel first, robot is used by doctors to completely remove patient’s pancreas

Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya says that a robot has been used for the first time in Israel to completely remove a patient’s pancreas.

The 78-year-old patient was diagnosed with multiple cystic tumors of the pancreas. Although this type of tumor is not considered cancerous, doctors say that left untreated, it could develop into a malignant pancreatic tumor in the future.

“The use of the robot allows surgeries to be performed without opening the abdomen,” says Dr. Eli Kakiashvili, head of the Department of Surgery A, who led the operation with the assistance of Dr. Gregory Bogoslavsky.

“The robot maximizes the surgeon’s capabilities to achieve maximum precision, reduce complications and allow for faster patient recovery,” Kakiashvili says.

The surgery also included the removal of all four parts of the duodenum, spleen, part of the stomach, extrahepatic bile ducts, and the gallbladder, followed by the reconstruction of the digestive system.

The operation, which lasted about seven hours, was highly successful. After a few days of hospitalization in the surgical ward, the patient was discharged home in good condition.