The Clinique de l'Alma acquires a robot for cutting-edge surgery

The Clinique de l'Alma has just acquired a Da Vinci surgical robot to develop cutting-edge minimally invasive surgery. The establishment, which has just completed a complete renovation of its premises in the ^7th arrondissement of Paris, is only the third clinic in Paris to have such equipment.

"With this innovative project, we are banking on cutting-edge medical innovation. Equipment such as this enables our specialists to work in optimum conditions and to use the most effective treatment techniques," says Gilles Schutz, Chairman of the Clinique de l'Alma.

The robot will initially be used for urological cancer surgery. Its use should then be extended to new teams within the establishment for various types of surgery (gall bladder, urinary incontinence treatment, thyroid pathology, snoring surgery and gynaecology).

High-precision surgery that's easier on the patient

The use of a surgical robot means that surgery is less invasive and less cumbersome, and therefore less traumatic for the patient than open surgery. There are many advantages for the patient:

• Smaller, even invisible scars,
• less post-operative pain
• faster post-operative recovery,
• reduced risk of complications and infections,
• reduced blood loss and, finally, fewer medium- and long-term sequelae.

For the professional, the benefits are clear, as it enables more meticulous and precise operations. Robotic surgery provides high-definition, three-dimensional vision with the option of zooming in to enlarge the image, making the procedure easier and more comfortable.

The robot analyses each gesture made by the surgeon 1,000 times a second and sends the signal to the articulated arms, eliminating any parasitic tremors. The control console makes it possible to reproduce all the mobility of the hand and fingers, which is not the case in laparoscopy, where the surgeon operates using 30 cm rods.

"These techniques have changed surgical practice for many teams, and all young surgeons now come out of university trained in robotic surgery," says Gilles Schutz.

Complete renovation to improve patient care

This cutting-edge equipment is being installed in a completely refurbished establishment. The Clinique de l'Alma has undergone a complete facelift, with a complete overhaul of its facilities, a major operation that will take five years and cost €13 million.