Queen Mary Hospital Introduces Single-Incision Robotic Surgery for Prostate Cancer
AM730 · 3 SOURCESabout 6 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
Queen Mary Hospital announced on Monday that it has completed 10 single-incision robotic surgeries for prostate cancer since first introducing the technique in December last year. The groundbreaking procedure significantly reduces trauma to patients by requiring only one incision instead of the traditional five to six, cutting surgery time by 44 percent and hospital stay in half. Medical teams say the new approach benefits patients with slower wound healing, such as those with diabetes, while accelerating bed turnover at public hospitals.
Key Points
- Queen Mary Hospital performed its first single-incision robotic surgery for prostate cancer in December 2025, completing 10 cases to date
- Traditional robotic surgery requires 5-6 incisions measuring 1-1.5 cm each, plus a 4-5 cm incision for tissue extraction; the new technique needs only one 4-5 cm incision below the navel
- Surgery time has been reduced from approximately 279 minutes to 155 minutes, a 44 percent decrease achieved by eliminating the need to reposition instruments between multiple entry points
- Average hospital stay has been halved from 4 days to 2 days, with some patients discharged the evening after surgery
- Associate Consultant in Urology Dr. Wong Hoi-lung (黃海龍) estimates 80-90 percent of prostate cancer patients are suitable candidates for the new procedure
- A 72-year-old patient identified as Mr. Tsang, treated last month, reported minimal pain, wound healing within one week, and resumed hiking just days after discharge
- The hospital team travelled to Nanjing Medical University for training on the technique, which is also used in overseas and mainland Chinese hospitals
- The technology is currently applied to prostate cancer and kidney removal surgeries, with plans to expand to breast and thyroid cancer treatments
Why It Matters
With prostate cancer being the third most common cancer among Hong Kong men, this innovative surgical technique offers faster recovery and reduced hospital stays, helping public hospitals improve bed turnover and reduce healthcare costs while maintaining quality patient care .
With prostate cancer being the third most common cancer among Hong Kong men, this innovative surgical technique offers faster recovery and reduced hospital stays, helping public hospitals improve bed turnover and reduce healthcare costs while maintaining quality patient care .