CMR Surgical milestones as Versius robot in use at key hospitals
CMR Surgical’s robotic surgical system, Versius, is now in use at Clinique du Parc Hospital in Saint-Etienne, France, and at the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).
MFT is the largest trust in the UK, and Versius has initiated the facility’s first-ever surgical robotics programme. It is initially being used to perform colorectal cancer surgery.
The Versius at Clinique du Parc is being used to conduct procedures such as hernia repair surgeries, prostatectomies and hysterectomies.
Per Vegard Nerseth, CEO at CMR Surgical, said: “France is one of the largest surgical robotics markets in the world and we are delighted to be launching Versius into such a highly influential region. In Versius we have created a unique system with the potential to radically transform surgery – making the best surgical care more accessible than ever before.
“Over the past year CMR has seen global interest in Versius increase exponentially and today is another important step forward as we continue to bring this pioneering technology to surgeons and hospitals across Europe and beyond.”
The developments will ensure a much higher use of robotic minimal access surgery (MAS), otherwise known as keyhole surgery. MAS is a gold standard of care and is associated with better outcomes for patients and shorter hospital stays compared to open surgery – two increasingly important factors as health services continue to seek rigorous ways to minimise exposure to Covid-19.
More than 1,500 hospitals perform MAS in France, yet only six per cent of medium-sized public hospitals have a robotic surgery department.
Using robotic MAS in these cases can significantly lower physical strain for the surgeon, reduces recovery time for a patient from weeks to days and lowers the risk of surgical site infections – an issue that is estimated to cost health services across Europe up to €19bn per annum.
A single Versius – easy to move and used in virtually any operating room – could be used to perform up to 300 cases every year.
Karine Giroudon, manager of Clinique du Parc, said: “The arrival of Versius is a remarkable opportunity for Clinique du Parc – the first hospital in France to benefit from this exceptional technology. Versius’ versatility and the fact that it is easily transportable means we have complete flexibility. Unlike anything before it, Versius can be used many times a day, in different theatres and by teams working across multiple disciplines such as gastroenterology, urology and gynaecology. Our surgical teams are leading the way in the use of this surgical tool, allowing us to offer the benefits of MAS to more patients than ever before.”
