Red Deer surgeons embrace transformative robotic technology

“This is standard of care worldwide. We still do the same kinds of surgeries; we just do it better now,” Van Zyl said. “It’s minimally invasive, and it’s not that the robot does the procedure; it’s just a tool we use. [It’s led to] excellent outcomes during and after, and recovery is better.”

(Image Credit: Alberta Health Services/Supplied)

It’s led to less pain after surgeries, hospital stays have been shorter, and wait times for have been shortened.

In Alberta, robotic-assisted surgery has been around since 2009, with 16,725 procedures performed up to 2025. Edmonton was the first to adopt it in Alberta, followed by Calgary. Red Deer is the first to get the system in Alberta in approximately 15 years.

He said it’s been a standard of care in Canada for over 20 years, but it’s been in the United States for nearly 30 years.

Van Zyl compared operating the technology to driving a four-wheeler, adding that there are a lot of pedals, clutches, and different arms.

He said the clutches move the three available arms, and he performs the surgery using those arms while looking through a computer screen that’s viewed through a 3D camera.

“A lot of people don’t mention it, but the ergonomics for us as surgeons is actually a big thing. It will extend my surgical life by five years; otherwise, we all get arthritis,” he added.

Urologist Dr. Stephanus Van Zyl. (Image Credit: Alberta Health Services/Supplied)

Without it, many of these surgeries would be done either laparoscopically or through large-incision procedures, which take longer to heal.

He said that now that it’s standard of care, Van Zyl anticipates more patients will come to Red Deer because they have the technology. He said patients are now requesting this type of surgery.

“Since we introduced the system, our central zone patients can come here. In the past, a lot of patients we’d do here and the rest we’d send to the cities that had the system,” he added.

He hopes that more communities throughout the province adopt the system in the future and believes they’ve set a standard with what they’ve accomplished in four months.

“It would not be a smart idea for them to not do this. There are a lot of hospitals that could use this program and a lot of services that could use it. Currently, urology is the biggest user, but that can change as new systems come on board,” he added.

The da Vinci surgical system was acquired for the hospital by the Red Deer Regional Hospital Foundation for $3.5 million. Meanwhile, Acute Care Alberta funds the operational side of the system for an amount not disclosed by Alberta Health Services.

Manon Therriault, Red Deer Regional Health Foundation’s CEO, said between eight and 10 donors, including the Alberta Cancer Foundation, supported the foundation’s decision to acquire the equipment.

She said they fundraised to buy the equipment in approximately nine months.

“I think that speaks to the level of interest the community has in this type of technology. We are quite grateful for that,” she said.

These donations are a part of the capital funding they receive on top of the annual funding they raise for throughout the year, including through the dream home lottery and the festival of trees.

by Ian Gustafson

Red Deer surgeons embrace transformative robotic technology

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