World-class robotic surgery at the University of Debrecen | University of Debrecen

“The acquisition of the robot-assisted surgical system marks another milestone in the development of our institution. The special significance of the introduction of the robotic surgery programme is that the technology will bring a new dimension to four specialities at the Clinical Centre, as it will serve not only general surgery but also urology, gynaecology, and otolaryngology surgery,” Zoltán Szabó, President of the Clinical Centre of the University of Debrecen, said at the ceremony.
The Da Vinci robotic surgical device, worth 1.3-billion Hungarian forints, was brought to the institution as a result of the University of Debrecen’s RRF educational development grant. The Clinical Centre supplemented the grant with its own contribution in the value of HUF 200 million.
“The programme is primarily intended to provide practice-oriented training, but it also makes state-of-the-art patient care possible. Looking at the developments of the past period, I can state with satisfaction that the university administration, together with the Board of Trustees, are good stewards of higher education in Debrecen, and the international reputation of our university is steadily improving,” György Kossa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Count István Tisza Foundation for the University of Debrecen, emphasised in his speech.

László Papp, Mayor of Debrecen, also spoke at the event, stating that the future has arrived in Debrecen.
“The specialists of the University of Debrecen can now use 21st-century, cutting-edge technology in patient care. Of course, this requires a wide range of experience and up-to-date knowledge, which, thanks to the people who work here, guarantees the high quality of patient care. Thanks to the current development, many citizens of Debrecen will have a new chance for a healthy life,” the mayor added.

The simulation software offers the possibility to practice simple tasks and to perform complete surgeries virtually, providing an attractive practical opportunity for graduate and postgraduate students. It can also be used for live surgical broadcasts to further support high-quality training.
“The acquisition of robot-assisted technology is perhaps the most significant technological advance in the history of the University of Debrecen. Robotic surgery represents a development opportunity that the institution cannot afford to miss out on,” said Zoltán Szilvássy, Rector of the University of Debrecen.
The surgeon sits in the surgical console and controls the four robotic arms, which hold the camera and instruments, while viewing the area to be operated on in high-resolution, three-dimensional images.

“The system provides the surgeon with an extremely precise and safe surgical technique. This reduces blood loss during the operation, reduces the likelihood of complications, and shortens the hospital stay after the operation and the recovery time,” said Dezső Tóth, Director of the Department of Surgery at the University of Debrecen Clinical Centre, who is also the head of the Robotic Surgery Centre.