“When I woke up, I thought I hadn’t had surgery because I felt almost no pain. Asking the nurse again, I finally believed the surgery was complete,” said Mr. D.B. (71 years old, Cambodian). He was still surprised as he recalled his experience after lung cancer surgery at FV Hospital.
The surgery lasted over two hours, but for him, it felt incredibly light. Behind that experience is the support of the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system – advanced surgical technology that is opening up minimally invasive treatment options for many lung cancer patients.
Lung cancer detected through a general health check
During a trip to Vietnam for kidney stone treatment at FV Hospital, Mr. D.B. decided to take advantage of an additional general health check-up package. The scan results showed a small nodule in the left lung. Because the lung nodule was too small, the doctors advised him to return home for continued regular monitoring.
After a year of monitoring, the lung nodule tended to grow larger, so his family took him to FV Hospital for treatment.
After a comprehensive examination with a series of in-depth tests such as MRI, whole-body CT, and biopsy, doctors determined that he had non-small cell lung cancer in his left lung. Fortunately, the disease is detected at an early stage – the “golden time” for thorough surgical treatment.
According to Dr. Luong Ngoc Trung, Head of Thoracic, Vascular & Endovascular Surgery Department and a Thoracic Surgeon at FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre, the patient is a healthcare professional and has many family members working in the medical field Therefore, he thoroughly researched treatment methods before making the decision to undergo surgery with the support of robotic technology at FV.
The surgery lasted 140 minutes and was assisted by robotic system
The surgery was performed by Dr. Luong Ngoc Trung, with the assistance of the da Vinci Xi robotic system, one of the modern robotic surgical platforms currently used in many major medical centers around the world. The entire robot operation time lasts approximately 140 minutes, shortening the average time of conventional laparoscopic surgery by about 20 minutes.
During the surgery, the doctors performed a lower lobe resection of the left lung – removing the part of the lung containing the tumor – simultaneously removed lymph nodes in the chest cavity. Lymph node dissection is a very important step in the treatment of lung cancer. A thorough lymph node dissection helps doctors accurately determine the stage of the disease and advise on the next course of treatment. With the help of robots, lymph node dissection has become extremely easy and thorough.
According to Dr. Trung, the outstanding advantage of robots lies in their ability to observe and manipulate with extreme precision. “The robot’s camera system provides high-resolution 3D images, magnified multiple times. Thanks to this, surgeons can clearly see very small structures located deep within the chest cavity – something sometimes difficult to achieve with traditional endoscopy,” the doctor explained.
The robotic arms also have the ability to rotate and fold flexibly up to 540 degrees, enabling sophisticated maneuvers with high stability, reducing damage to healthy tissue and providing good control of the surgical area.
Less pain, faster recovery
What surprised Mr. D.B. the most was how he felt upon waking up after the surgery. “When I woke up, I thought I hadn’t had surgery because I felt almost no pain. I asked the nurse again, and only then did I believe the surgery was complete,” the patient shared.
The incisions in robotic surgery are only about 8 mm, so they are less painful, leave less scarring, and help patients recover faster than traditional surgical methods, significantly saving time and hospital costs.
Just three days after the surgery, Mr. D.B. was able to be discharged from the hospital and return to almost normal activities.
According to doctors, this is one of the biggest benefits of robotic surgery: it reduces trauma to the body while still ensuring effective treatment.
Robotic technology – a new trend in cancer surgery
According to Dr. Luong Ngoc Trung, the development of robotic surgery is opening up many opportunities for minimally invasive treatment for patients with thoracic diseases, especially early-stage lung cancer. Recently, many lung cancer patients, after receiving advice on surgical methods, have chosen to undergo surgery using the da Vinci Xi robotic system at FV. Their experiences all showed a gentle surgery and spectacular recovery after the operation.
“Nowadays, medical information knows no borders; patients can easily research treatment methods before making a decision. The increasing number of FV patients choosing robotic surgery shows confidence in the hospital’s professional team and equipment system,” Dr. Trung shared.
In addition to applying robotic surgery to thoracic diseases, the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre also applies the da Vinci Xi robotic system in many fields:
- Thoracic Surgery: Lung cancer; mediastinal tumours; thymoma; oesophageal surgery
- Gastrointestinal and Hepatopancreaticobiliary Surgery: Gastrectomy; colorectal resection; hepatectomy; pancreatectomy
- Urology: Radical prostatectomy; nephrectomy; cystectomy
- Gynaecology: Hysterectomy; surgical management of endometriosis; myomectomy; gynaecological oncology surgery.
To facilitate early access to advanced technology for patients, FV Hospital is launching a promotional program offering a 40 million VND discount on 50 da Vinci Xi robotic surgeries, from now until June 15, 2026. For more information, readers please go to FV Hospital, No. 06 Nguyen Luong Bang, Tan My Ward (formerly District 7) Ho Chi Minh City, or contact (028) 3511 3333.
