First Experiences with the New Senhance® Telerobotic System in Visceral Surgery

Abstract

Until recently, robotic-assisted surgery has exclusively been connected to the name DaVinci®. In 2016, a second robotic system, the Senhance®, became available. To introduce the new robotic system into clinical routine, detailed team training and an integration program were useful. Within the first 6 months, 116 cases were performed with this system. The integration program intended to start with simple and well-standardized clinical cases. We chose inguinal hernia repair using the TAPP (transabdominal preperitoneal) technique as the starting procedure. Subsequently, we added upper gastrointestinal surgery and cholecystectomies, and colorectal procedures have since also been included. Initial experience with the Senhance system as the first installation in Germany shows that it is suitable for surgery in general and for visceral surgery in particular. The application is safe due to the unproblematically quick changeover to normal laparoscopy and easy to integrate due to the very short system integration times (docking times). Since it is a laparoscopic-based system, following an integration program will enable experienced laparoscopic surgeons to very quickly manage more complex procedures. Due to lower costs, introducing robotic surgery starting with simple and standardized procedures is more feasible. After the establishment of this second robotic system, future studies will have to specifically look at differences in surgical results and basic conditions of different robotic-assisted systems. This paper documents the decision-making process of a hospital towards the integration of a robotic system and the selection criteria used while also demonstrating the planning and execution process during the introduction of the system into clinical routine.

Robotic abdominoperineal resection for pT2N0M0 low rectal cancer using the Senhance TransEnterix robotic platform – a video vignette

“…Previous single centre experience studies have demonstrated acceptable early postoperative results using the Senhance robotic system . We conclude that this new system is feasible and safe for colorectal surgery.…”

Robotic Cholecystectomy: First Experience in Baltic Countries

“…However, Zhou et al, in their series of 40 patients, found that robotic assistance provided better control of the operative field and had the advantage of increased precision and stability when compared with LC [9]. The introduction of a Senhance TransEnterix robotic system has created new feasibility for robotic cholecystectomy, because of the safety and reduced per-case costs [5][6]. Especially with a high case load, this reduction is significant.…”

“…However, until recently, robotic-assisted surgery has exclusively been connected to the name DaVinci®. In 2016, a second robotic system, the Senhance®, became available [5]. Because of its safety and possibility to resterilize the instruments of Senhance robotic system, it became feasible to perform smaller routine operations like robotic cholecystectomy [6].…”

A roadmap for robotic-assisted sigmoid resection in diverticular disease using a Senhance™ Surgical Robotic System: results and technical aspects

“…Since March 2017, more than 250 procedures had been performed at our surgical department with the Senhance™ Surgical Robotic System. Clinical data describing the early experience with this system at our department have already been published [17]. Starting October 2017 through October 2018, we had performed 12 robotic-assisted sigmoid resections for diverticular disease.…”