Dr. Sucandy Proctored The FIRST Da Vinci Surgery in Jakarta
Robotic surgery has become the new standard of minimally invasive surgery in the United States due to the technical advantages afforded by the robotic technology when compared with conventional laparoscopy. Instead of working with straight instruments, robotic systems are equipped with articulating instruments that can fit any tights spaced in human body and they can perform more precise surgical maneuvers such as suturing, stopping bleeding, and creating anastomosis (connection between hollow organs). The robotic surgical system also comes with 3-D magnified camera which provides excellent visualization to the surgical fields leading to superior surgical outcomes. Because of this increased surgical capability, many complex and technically challenging operations such as liver and pancreatic cancer resections are now performed using minimally invasive techniques, instead of using the traditional open operation. Patient’s outcomes also improve secondary to this modernization in surgical technique, mainly explained by the lack of complications related to large abdominal incisions. Not surprisingly, since 10-15 years ago, many hospitals and surgeons in the Western world have shifted from laparoscopic to robotic surgery.
Intuitive Surgical Inc as the leading company producing robotic surgical system, called Da Vinci robot is rapidly expanding its footprints to Asia and South America in the past five years. As diffusion of technology occurs among digestive surgeons, the need for robotic surgical system is now rising in Asia including Indonesia, despite of its higher capital cost. As a major country in Asia, Indonesia has over 2 millions of citizens with ever growing economy as reflected by its increasing GDP. To serve such a large population with the needs for complex operations, Siloam Hospital group led by Ms. Caroline Riady (the daughter of Mr. James Riady and the granddaughter of Mr. Mochtar Riady, both Indonesian prominent businessmen) decided to invest in the First Da Vinci robotic surgical system in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia. Siloam Hospital is one of the largest private hospital system in Indonesia, spanning from Sumatra to Papua owning a total of 41 major Hospitals. In Jakarta itself, Siloam Hospital group owns three major hospitals including one dedicated cancer hospital in Semanggi.
As the world expert in robotic surgery and instructor for hepatopancreatobiliary surgery in America, Dr Sucandy was invited to proctor the First Da Vinci operation in Siloam Kebun Jeruk Hospital. The proctorship was conducted with the local team of surgeon and nurses who had been trained in Singapore for basic robotic surgery, under the direction of Dr. Wifanto Jeo. The proctorship was broadcasted live from the operating room of Siloam Hospital to Ritz Carlton Hotel Jakarta, where the Annual 5th Siloam Digestive Symposium took place. The 2025 Digestive Symposium was very well attended with more than 600 participating general and specialist doctors/surgeons from all over Indonesia, seeking new knowledge and updates in surgical/medical technologies.
The operating room session was completed well with excellent outcomes. Dr Sucandy was also able to give an interactive short lecture and review of the robotic surgical systems to the audience using a telecommunication network from the operating room of Siloam Hospital. Currently, the robotic surgery has started its journey in the department of urology, gynecology and now in the field of digestive surgery. This is a breakthrough event in healthcare services in Asia where billions of patients reside. Dr Sucandy was very pleased with this proctorship and the successful 2025 Digestive Disease Symposium held by Siloam Hospital group. The hospital leadership team is looking forward for the following summit and continuous guidance from Dr Sucandy to further develop robotic surgery in Indonesia.
