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Surgical Robot Removes Throat Tumour - UK First

Last week I filmed part of a report on the removal of a tumour on a patient's throat for BBC News.

Cameraman Gloucestershire
Pic: BBC News

For the first time in the UK, a surgical team used a robot to remove a cancerous tumour from a patient's throat.

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital surgeons Simon Higgs and Steve Hornby employed the Versius robot to remove a tumour from Martin Nugent's oesophagus.


"If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be standing here now," Mr Nugent said.


"To have been given a second chance to see my grandchildren, my children and my wife has meant so much to me."


Previously, operating on the oesophagus - which connects the mouth to the stomach - would have been performed through open surgery, with the surgeon making the incision manually.


Using the Versius surgical robot made it possible to operate on Mr Nugent using minimal access surgery.


Minimal access surgery creates smaller incisions, reduces post-operative pain, complications and scarring.

It also shortens the recovery time for patients.


You can read the full report on the BBC's website here.


*Note that unedited images of the operation are used in this report*

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