Revolutionary technology in the fight against prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among men. According to data from the Croatian Institute of Public Health, in 2024 alone, 862 men in Croatia died from this disease. Modern medicine today offers new possibilities for treatment — among them, the Da Vinci robotic system, which has brought a true revolution to urological surgery.
At the International Medical Center Priora in Čepin, near Osijek, the first surgeries using the Da Vinci system in Croatia were performed in June 2024. Since then, the team led by Dr. Tomislav Kalem, Director of Priora and Head of the Urology Department, has successfully completed nearly one hundred procedures — most commonly for prostate cancer, but also for kidney tumors and pyeloplasty.
Precision, safety, and faster recovery for patients
According to Dr. Kalem, all surgeries have been completed successfully, with patients discharged just two or three days after the procedure. Thanks to the mentorship of Dr. Georg Schön, one of the world’s most experienced surgeons with over 6,000 Da Vinci operations, Priora quickly mastered all stages of working with this sophisticated system.
The advantages of Da Vinci procedures are numerous: smaller incisions, minimal tissue trauma, faster recovery, and an earlier return to everyday activities. Patients experience little to no pain, while the robot’s precision helps preserve continence and potency.
“It’s important to emphasize that the robot doesn’t operate on its own — the surgeon controls every movement. Da Vinci is an extension of the surgeon’s hands, but with precision beyond human capability,” says Dr. Kalem.
The future of surgery has already arrived
In addition to patients from Croatia, IMC Priora also treats patients from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Austria, and Germany, where Da Vinci is already a standard in many surgical disciplines.
According to Dr. Kalem, the future brings further advancements — robots equipped with artificial intelligence that will be able to perform simpler procedures entirely autonomously.
“For colleagues who wish to begin working with Da Vinci, I would recommend finding certified training centers and practicing as much as possible. There are simulators and virtual avatars that allow realistic preparation for surgical procedures,” adds Dr. Kalem.
Read the full article at Ordinacija.hr
