“Our orthopedic surgeons have shown how effective this model is—overlapping surgeries where a team is setting up one room while the surgeon is operating in another, minimizing downtime. With similar resources, we could achieve the same efficiency in gynaecological care.” Dr. Lesley Hawkins, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Humber River Health

In the bustling corridors of Humber River Health’s Maternal Child program, a team of OBGYNs are revolutionizing gynaecological care through robotic surgery. Driven by a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to health equity, they are harnessing cutting-edge technology, such as the da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot, to broaden their range of gynaecological procedures and offer life-changing care to even more patients across the Greater Toronto Area.   

Dr. Lesley Hawkins, one of four gynaecologic surgeons trained in robotic techniques, shared how this innovative technology has been a game-changer for gynaecological procedures. “Robotic surgery allows us to perform complex procedures in a minimally invasive way,” explains Dr. Hawkins. “The da Vinci Xi has a full moveable wrist, and as the surgeon, we sit in a console that gives us a 3D view of the patient with a highly advanced camera system. This allows us to use our own hands on the controls to move the instruments, just as we would if we were in the abdomen with an open incision.”   

Patients with conditions like uterine pre-cancer and uterine cancer, fibroids, and endometriosis can now undergo surgery with less pain, reduced risk, and a quicker return to their daily lives. “We use the da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot to perform minimally invasive procedures to the patient’s abdomen, allowing us to conduct very complex surgeries without having to open up the patient,” explains Dr. Hawkins. “This technology, paired with the skills in our group, can offer our patients better outcomes and faster recovery”.   

But Dr. Hawkins’ work goes beyond the operating room. She and the team at Humber are tackling systemic inequities in gynaecological care, ensuring that all patients have access to the care they need. One of the many ways we are able to do so is by providing gynaecological robotic procedures to our bariatric patients.  

“Robotic surgery enabled us to offer gynaecological procedures to patients with higher body mass indexes (BMIs) who might otherwise have limited options—either open surgery or no surgery at all,” says Dr. Hawkins. “This is one of the key patient groups we’re able to serve effectively thanks to robotic surgery.”  

Despite these advancements, the team faces significant barriers, including limited access to the da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot. “We share the da Vinci Xi with several different specialties, so it is only available to our department one day per week,” says Dr. Hawkins. “That does limit the number of cases that we can do.”  

It’s not just the limited quantity of surgical robots, but there is also a need for specialized staff to properly prepare and operate the robotic system. “We have a subset of our amazing team who are trained specifically for robotic surgery,” says Dr. Hawkins. “After each surgery, the room is thoroughly sanitized by our amazing cleaning team, and then the room is expertly set up for the next procedure by the robotic nursing team. That set up takes quite a lot of time.” 

Donor funding can significantly impact the number of gynaecological procedures completed in one day. “If we had two da Vinci Xi Surgical Robots and extra team members to prep one OR while surgeries are happening in another, we could double the number of procedures we do each day,” says Dr. Hawkins. “Our orthopedic surgeons have shown how effective this model is—overlapping surgeries where a team is setting up one room while the surgeon is operating in another, minimizing downtime. With similar resources, we could achieve the same efficiency in gynaecological care.”

The transformational work put forth by Humber’s gynaecological surgical team showcases the power of innovation and compassion in healthcare. “We’re making incredible strides,” says Dr. Hawkins. “But there’s so much more we can do. With donor support, we can continue to innovate and improve the lives of patients across our region.” 

Expanding Robotic Surgery: da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot

Humber River Health is at the forefront of surgical innovation in Canada and with donor support, our Robotic Surgery Program can continue to make a difference. To learn more, please contact Daniela Campoli at dcampoli@hrh.ca