HoSZA First In East Coast To Use Digital Laparoscopic Suite

KUALA NERUS, July 29 (Bernama) -- The Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin Hospital (HoSZA) has become the first hospital on the East Coast to utilise the Digital Laparoscopic Suite for laparoscopy or minimally invasive surgery (MIS).

HoSZA colorectal surgeon Dr Ahmad Fardi Sulaiman said the method offered numerous advantages over conventional surgery, including reduced postoperative pain, cost-effectiveness, and faster patient recovery.

"This method helps to minimise incisions, and most patients can get out of bed and walk sooner.

"Patients also experience lower levels of postoperative pain compared to large incision surgery (laparotomy)," he said after performing a Digital Laparoscopic Suite surgery at HoSZA today.

Dr Ahmad Fardi added that the Digital Laparoscopic Suite was also used to teach medical students at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA).

He said this method also allowed surgeries to be conducted live and broadcast to seminar rooms, auditoriums, and virtual platforms such as Google Meet and Webex.

"This approach allows doctors and students at UniSZA to observe closely how experts perform surgeries without being in the operating theatre," he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Ahmad Fardi said that 371 colorectal cancer cases were recorded in Terengganu from 2018 to 2022.

He said that out of the number, 146 patients arrived at the hospital in need of urgent surgery.

"More worryingly, 218 new colorectal cancer cases were recorded from January to July this year. This indicates a concerning trend and significant health burden," he added.

-- BERNAMA