IMC Priora among the pioneers of robotic gynecological surgery in Croatia
The International Medical Center Priora has once again come into the spotlight of Croatian media after the successful performance of the first robot-assisted hysterectomy in Croatia using the Da Vinci system. The procedure was carried out at Priora in Čepin and performed by gynecologist Dr. Dimitrije Milojković, a subspecialist in gynecologic oncology, under the mentorship of Dr. Balázs Lintner from Semmelweis University in Budapest.
Ivana Čulić from Čepin became the first woman in Croatia to have her uterus removed with the assistance of the Da Vinci robotic system. The operation was performed using a minimally invasive approach while preserving the ovaries, which allows the patient to maintain hormonal balance and reproductive potential.
IMC Priora is the first private medical center in Croatia to introduce the Da Vinci robotic system, beginning in June 2024. Since then, more than one hundred robotic procedures have been performed, primarily in the field of uro-oncology, including surgeries for prostate and kidney cancer.
Advantages of Da Vinci robotic surgery for patients
The Da Vinci robotic system enables surgeons to perform procedures with exceptional precision thanks to advanced technology and superior visualization of the surgical field. During the operation, the surgeon controls four robotic arms that replicate the movements of the human hand, but with a wider range of motion and significantly greater precision.
With high-resolution 3D visualization and image magnification of up to ten times, surgeons can clearly see even the smallest structures of tissue and blood vessels. This significantly reduces bleeding, increases surgical safety, and lowers the risk of complications.
Compared with conventional surgery or standard laparoscopy, robotic surgery also requires much smaller incisions. In this case, only several tiny openings of about eight millimeters in diameter were made, which considerably accelerates the patient’s recovery.
Faster recovery and shorter time under anesthesia
One of the key advantages of robotic surgery is the shorter duration of the procedure. Operations are on average up to one-third shorter, depending on their complexity, meaning patients spend less time under anesthesia.
Patients who have undergone such procedures often highlight the significantly faster recovery. In many cases, they are able to stand up and walk on the same day as the surgery, with minimal pain and a much shorter hospital stay.
While robotic gynecological surgery is already a standard practice in many medical centers worldwide, its wider application in Croatia is only beginning. By introducing these technologies, Priora confirms its role as one of the leading centers for minimally invasive and robotic surgery in the region.
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