Medtronic plc announced the first gynecological (GYN) procedures with the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. The six cases included hysterectomies and myomectomies performed by Salomón Zebede, M.D., and Juan Carlos López, M.D., last week at Pacifica Salud Hospital in Panama City, Panama.
Globally, more than 60% of hysterectomies are performed as open procedures, even though minimally invasive surgery offers fewer complications, shorter hospital stays and faster return to normal activities.
Pacifica Salud is the latest institution to join Medtronic’s Partners in Possibility Program, a group of pioneering hospitals that will be among the first in the world to use the Hugo RAS system. Earlier this month, the hospital announced its first five urological cases with the Hugo RAS system. Pacifica Salud is also an early adopter of Touch Surgery Enterprise, a cloud-based surgical video capture solution that allows surgeons to seamlessly record, analyze and share surgical video.
The Hugo RAS system is a modular, multi-quadrant platform designed for a broad range of soft-tissue procedures. In June, Medtronic announced the first clinical procedures with the Hugo system took place in Santiago, Chile. That marked the beginning of the Hugo RAS system patient registry, which is collecting clinical data to support regulatory submissions around the world.
The Hugo RAS system is not cleared or approved in the U.S. or Europe. Regulatory requirements of individual countries and regions will determine availability and approval or clearance timelines. Touch Surgery Enterprise is available in the U.S. and Europe; it is not intended to direct surgery, or aid in diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition.
