A new piece of medical technology will be setting up shop at St. Paul’s Hospital this fall.

The province is committing $1 million dollars to help purchase a new surgical robotic system, the first of its kind in Saskatchewan.  The new Da Vinci system will help to address the tens of thousands of surgeries which have been postponed due to the pandemic.

Dr. Ivar Mendez, the provincial head of surgery says the new Da Vinci system will allow more patients to get their surgery done in a more timely manner given the process by the robotic machine is less taxing on the patient.

“These slender arms with very tiny instruments can go to those places with minimal trauma to the body. It allows us manipulate the tissues in amore delicate way that decreases trauma and allows us to reach those difficult places.”

The recovery time will be less after receiving surgery from the machine meaning more hospital beds will be available for other patients to come through the door.

The Belsher family made a donation of $1 million dollars to help towards the purchase of the new state-of-the art machine. The remaining $500,000 dollars will be raised by the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation.

Dr. Mendez hopes the new $2.5 million dollar machine will entice other surgeons to take up practice in the province. The new Da Vinci surgical system will be used in urology, head and neck cancer, thoracic surgery and gynecological oncology.

(CJWW | Photo credit: CJWW)