Kauno Clinics has become the first hospital in the Baltic States to install the renowned “da Vinci” robotic surgical system. The installation of the system marks an important stage in the robotic surgery program that Kauno Clinics has been steadily developing.
However, robotic surgery using the “da Vinci” system begins well before the first operation – its foundation is not only advanced technology, but also the people capable of using it safely and responsibly.
Being the first hospital in the Baltic States to install the “da Vinci” robotic surgical system represents a technological breakthrough and a commitment to providing patients with the most modern, safest, and evidence-based treatment. For this reason, alongside the technology, we are building a comprehensive robotic surgery system – preparing teams, investing in their skills and expertise, and only after thorough preparation will we begin the first operations.
Prof. Habil. Dr. Renaldas Jurkevičius, Director General of Kauno Clinics
The “da Vinci” robotic surgery program encompasses much more than the acquisition of new equipment. It is being developed as a comprehensive competency platform that brings together the training of surgeons, anesthesiologists-intensivists, and operating-room nurses, as well as clinical algorithms, work organization, and quality assurance processes. The program covers the entire patient treatment pathway – from surgical planning to early recovery and discharge after surgery.
For a university hospital, this means new technological possibilities as well as a new surgical culture centered on continuous learning, teamwork, personalized treatment, and patient safety throughout the entire treatment pathway, the Director General emphasizes.
Before the first “da Vinci” robotic operation, a long and rigorous preparation process takes place – theoretical training, work with simulators, internships at foreign centers, observation of operations, and collaboration with experienced international experts.
Only then do we move on to the first operations at the new center. These are performed by surgeons who have completed the training together with an expert from a foreign center, ensuring effective transfer of accumulated experience to the new teams. Such a systematic approach helps ensure what matters most – patient safety and the highest quality of treatment.
Prof. Evaldas Padervinskis, Head of the Inpatient Services Coordination Service at Kauno Clinics
An important part of the program is the “da Vinci” ecosystem itself. The simulation platform integrated into the surgeon’s console allows skills to be developed without leaving the real operating-room environment. In the future, a dual-console configuration will enable an experienced surgeon and a trainee to operate together, while telemedicine solutions will make it possible to observe operations remotely and consult with international experts in real time.
“Structured training pathways have been prepared not only for surgeons, but also for residents, operating-room nurses, surgical assistants, and ‘da Vinci’ robotic surgery coordinators – thus, we are preparing not individual specialists, but an entire ‘da Vinci’ robotic surgery team. Specialists from Kauno Clinics will train within the international network of ‘da Vinci’ robotic surgery training centers, which comprises more than 25 centers in Europe. Over the past five years, more than 9,500 healthcare professionals have been trained at these centers,” the professor adds.
The “da Vinci” system also makes it possible to analyze surgical data, monitor outcomes, and generate insights that are important for improving clinical practice and conducting scientific research. By becoming the first hospital in the Baltic States to install a “da Vinci” robotic surgical system, Kauno Clinics has all the prerequisites to become an important robotic surgery center of excellence in the Baltic region.
Robotic surgery using the “da Vinci” surgical system is used worldwide in many fields of surgery – from urology and gynecology to abdominal, thoracic, and pediatric surgery. During an operation, the surgeon works at a special control console, from which they control the robotic arms of the “da Vinci” system in real time. Although the technology enables highly precise performance of complex procedures during minimally invasive surgery, it does not make decisions itself – every movement and decision is controlled by the operating surgeon. The system enables more precise movements, eliminates hand tremor, and moves together with the operating table, allowing surgeons to reach anatomically difficult-to-access areas.
The system does not replace the doctor – it is an advanced tool that allows the surgeon to operate with even greater precision. The robot itself does nothing and makes no decisions – every movement is controlled by the surgeon. The most important factors during an operation remain the doctor’s experience and knowledge, as well as the work of the entire operating team. For this reason, before beginning operations using the ‘da Vinci’ robotic surgical system, we place great emphasis on team training and preparation. Only a well-prepared team can safely make full use of the technology’s capabilities and ensure the best possible outcome for patients.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Povilas Aniulis, a urologist at the Department of Urology at Kauno Clinics and coordinator of the robotic surgery program.
In the coming months, the training of specialists at Kauno Clinics will be completed, and the first “da Vinci” robotic operations are planned for this autumn. Until then, 14 surgeons, forming seven multidisciplinary teams, will participate in various stages of the “da Vinci” robotic surgery program, along with up to 10 other operating-room team specialists. Their preparation will form the foundation for the safe application of this technology for patients at Kauno Clinics.
