The first procedure, a right hemicolectomy, took place on 31 March 2025 in a specially prepared operating theatre. Hospital director Kamil Barczyk emphasizes that modern robotic surgery primarily means greater precision and improved working comfort for the surgical team. Thanks to HUGO™ RAS technology, procedures can be performed in various specialties, including general surgery and gynecology.
– Robotic surgery significantly improves treatment outcomes, especially in the case of cancer – says Dr. Wojciech Hap, Head of the Department of General Surgery.
Introducing a surgical robot at a county hospital is a major step forward, increasing the availability of innovative treatment methods for residents of the region.
– This is the first robotic system in this part of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Thanks to it, we are significantly improving the quality and availability of modern oncological and general surgery. In doing so, we are filling a certain white spot on the map of Poland – Kamil Barczyk, the hospital director. – For the entire hospital staff, this is an experience filled with enormous emotion. We are all strongly rooting for robotic surgery in Bolesławiec to develop dynamically and become one of the leading centers in Poland.
– As far as I know, this is the first county hospital in Poland to have such a modern system as the HUGO™ RAS surgical robot. It is a milestone that allows us to join the group of facilities operating at a clinical level – says Tomasz Gabrysiak, the Bolesławiec county governor.
– I was the second patient to undergo surgery using the robot. I was told that the robot can reach areas that are difficult for a human to access, thanks to its precise arms, which perform movements more accurately than a surgeon’s hand – says Anna Skarbek, a patient at the Bolesławiec hospital.
– I only remember being prepared in the operating room – there were many people, and everyone was very polite and helpful. Later, I woke up after the procedure. The very next day, I got out of bed and was able to move around independently. The medical care made the greatest impression on me. Dr. Hap is an exceptional person – they call him an Angel here. He has enormous empathy and gives patients hope for the future. I truly felt safe here – says the patient.
– I stayed in the hospital for several days, from 2 to 7 April. I observed the other patients, and they all spoke very positively. Now I have undergone the procedure and am waiting for the results. Every patient after such an operation must remain under an oncologist’s care for several years, because you never know whether the disease might return. But for now, I am happy that the operation was successful and I hope everything will be fine. I recommend such a procedure to everyone whenever it is possible. It offers enormous comfort for the patient, less pain, and a faster return to normal life. Above all, I recommend Dr. Hap – he is a doctor by vocation who gives people hope and the feeling that they are in good hands – adds Anna Skarbek.
– Patients recover significantly faster after robotic surgery. Robotic surgery reduces pain and helps patients regain activity sooner. The HUGO™ RAS system enables more precise surgery compared with traditional laparoscopic methods, minimizing the risk of tissue damage and accelerating recovery – says Dr. Wojciech Hap, Head of the Department of General Surgery.
– The robot is equipped with four arms – three control surgical instruments, while one operates the camera. This gives the surgeon complete control over every movement and allows them to focus on precise surgery. The system also provides a stable image, significantly reducing operator fatigue. The robot simulator is one of the key training tools. It allows surgeons to practice various procedures and refine their skills. The training process takes approximately three months – from learning on the simulator, through certification, to the first procedures performed under the supervision of a proctor – adds the head of surgery.
– Currently, two people at our hospital are certified to operate the robot – Dr. Kacper Janiszewski and I. Assistants are also involved in the operations; they operate the surgical instruments and help exchange them. Using the HUGO™ RAS system is a major change for us – not only because of the greater precision and comfort during surgery, but also because it enables us to train additional surgeons and develop new surgical procedures – says Wojciech Hap.
– Our goal is to provide patients with the highest possible standard of healthcare. I am here to support the surgical team in optimizing the robot’s settings and refining surgical procedures. Together, we are working to improve the efficiency of operations – from positioning the robot’s arms to minimizing the time needed to prepare the operating station. Every day, we measure the time required to dock the robot, and through systematic training we are achieving increasingly better results. My role is to analyze procedures and identify areas that can be optimized so that the entire process runs faster and with greater precision – says Mohammed AL-Hayouti from Medtronic Poland.