Dr. Iswanto Sucandy Hosted Leading Surgeons to Visit Robotic Liver Surgery Center in Tampa, FL
Minimally Invasive robotic liver surgery is rapidly gaining momentum as the preferred technique in the curative treatment of many liver tumors. The conventional open and laparoscopic techniques are still performed at many centers as the traditional method, however, the advantages of robotic liver surgery are now widely recognized as digital technology permeates the field of Liver Surgery. Enhanced 3D camera visualization, stable platform, easy suturing to rapidly stop bleeding, lower need for unplanned conversion when compared to laparoscopy, and ability to create fine biliary and vascular reconstructions are the benefits of robotic surgical systems such as the Da Vinci platform. Dr. Sucandy as the pioneer and expert in robotic liver surgery has developed techniques in performing liver, biliary, pancreas, and other complex abdominal operations since early 2015. He also started the robotic liver surgery program in Tampa which is now the largest and busiest robotic liver surgery program in the region.
Since 2016, Dr. Sucandy has undertaken and completed more than 530 robotic liver operations of various kinds. The research team that works with Dr. Sucandy within the institution has published approximately 100 journal articles and textbook chapters around the use of robotic technology in liver surgery. Last year alone, Dr Sucandy’s team published about 30 scientific articles, more than the majority of academic/university medical centers throughout the United States. As the clinical experience accumulates, more and more patients and surgeons from around the world become aware of the practice. The center has not only served as the hospital providing liver surgery service, but Dr. Sucandy has also established a learning center for robotic liver surgery to meet the needs of the surgical community in learning these operations in a comprehensive and safe way.
Since then, many world-leading surgeons have visited and spent time in the operating room with Dr. Sucandy, to learn from each other and exchange surgical techniques and experiences. This is such an honor and privilege to be able to do so while creating a network of liver-experienced surgeons who create major impacts on their respective communities. To mention a few, Dr. David Kwon from Cleveland Clinic Foundation Ohio, Dr. Catherine Teh from Makati Medical Center in Manila, Dr. Kevin Billingsley from Yale University, Dr. Kathleen Christians, and many others have visited our robotic liver surgery center in Tampa. This is a continuous program, where other surgeons from Brazil, Turkey, the United Kingdom, etc are currently being scheduled to come to Tampa to spend time with Dr. Sucandy.
“This is one pillar of being an expert in a surgical subspecialty, in addition to delivering high-level of surgical care and fostering innovations,” said Dr. Sucandy. Life-long education and commitment to helping others learn are essential components of being a surgical leader. Despite running a very busy clinical practice, Dr. Sucandy still allocates his time to prepare and deliver various hepatobiliary lectures to many surgical societies, both nationally and internationally. Many of these lectures are in-person requiring travels to Europe, Asia, and South America.
