Manchester Royal Infirmary surgeons first to use 3D

Surgeons at Manchester Royal Infirmary claim to be the first in the UK to use a full 3D projection during an operation.

They used the equipment during an operation on John Green, 62, from Openshaw, to remove his prostate.

The team wore special glasses in order to view the procedure in 3D.

Doctors said the combination of robotic and 3D technologies allows for greater surgical mobility with keyhole techniques.

During the operation, a high definition screen carried a 3D image of a hand-held robotic arm developed to carry out intricate surgical techniques.

The arm was used for the first time at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport last month.

Manchester Royal Infirmary said it hoped the advancement would provide better results at a fraction of the cost of current robotic and imaging techniques.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said 3D projection allowed the surgeon to have greater accuracy, "therefore reducing the risks of muscle and nerve damage."

She added it would help reduce surgeon fatigue, meaning they would be able to carry out "more operations with even better outcomes."

The technology is to be used on a small number of patients before being offered more widely.

Dan Burke, who led the surgery, said he hoped the technology would become available to many more patients.

"We are already excited at the potential this technology has, not just for us but for our many colleagues in the trust performing keyhole surgery.

"Ultimately we are aiming for a better patient outcome at a cost that will benefit the NHS."

Last month, a patient at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport became the first in the UK to have his prostate removed using the same robotic hand-held device used in Mr Green's operation.

The technology offers a more precise and quicker surgical procedure, as it provides more flexibility than the human wrist.