The International Medical Center Priora in Čepin, near Osijek, has reached a milestone of 100 surgical procedures performed with the advanced Da Vinci robotic system. The first Da Vinci procedures in Croatia were performed at IMC Priora on June 3, 2024, in a prostate cancer case, and to date, more than one hundred patients have been successfully treated at the hospital, which recently marked its second year of operation.
Development of robotic surgery and clinical experience
“I am very proud that we have performed more than one hundred successful surgical procedures using the Da Vinci robot. With Da Vinci, the surgeon effectively operates with four ‘arms’ simultaneously. The robotic arms have remarkable mobility, with a range of up to 540 degrees and millimeter-level precision. The procedure is monitored at all times on a 3D display, with the image magnified 10x. These technological advantages translate into patient benefits – smaller incisions, minimal bleeding, and significantly faster recovery compared to conventional surgery. In urological procedures, patients can preserve continence and potency,” said mr. sc. Tomislav Kalem, director of IMC Priora and head of the urology department, who also performed the first Da Vinci surgeries in Croatia.
During the development and training on the robotic system, IMC Priora physicians received significant support from mentor Dr. Georg Schön from Munich, who has performed more than 6,000 procedures with this system, making him one of the world’s most experienced operators.
Outcomes, patient experience and expansion of clinical applications
n the first hundred surgeries, the majority were prostate procedures, and one of the early urology patients was Mirko Blažević from Vinkovci: “After the surgery, I felt no pain at all, and I returned to my daily activities, including work, within ten days. I go for regular check-ups every three months, everything is in excellent condition, and I no longer even think about the operation—as if I had never had cancer.”
The Da Vinci system has also proven successful in kidney surgeries at Priora and has recently been introduced in gynecology. The first gynecological procedures using this system, including a highly complex hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), were successfully performed by gynecologist Dr. Dimitrije Milojković, under the mentorship of Dr. Balázs Lintner from Semmelweis University in Budapest.
“Thanks to high-resolution 3D visualization and up to tenfold magnification, the surgeon gains extremely precise insight into the smallest structures of tissues and blood vessels. This level of precision increases surgical safety and reduces bleeding and the risk of complications. It also shortens the duration of the procedure, meaning the patient spends less time under anesthesia, resulting in faster and easier recovery,” explained Dr. Milojković.
Patient Ivana Čulić from Čepin is the first woman in Croatia to have undergone a uterus removal using the Da Vinci robotic system. “A uterine fibroid caused me serious problems for three and a half years, leading to anemia, frequent fainting, and general weakness, which significantly affected my quality of life. I previously underwent two laparoscopic gynecological surgeries, after which recovery took about a month, while after the Da Vinci surgery, I was walking normally the very next day and felt no pain.”
The capabilities of the Da Vinci system are impressive, and IMC Priora has announced plans to further expand its use, with the first abdominal surgery procedure scheduled for this month as its third surgical specialty.
