Hospital introduces robotic surgery to prostate management procedures
By Vivian Ihechu
As part of its expertise in minimally invasive procedures particularly for prostates, Kelina Hospital is set to introduce Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP)- robotic surgery.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Celsus Undie, made the assertion during a media briefing in Lagos on Friday.
Undie noted that April 2025 was a milestone in Kelina Hospital as the facility marked the feat of 6,000 surgical operations since inception in 2008.
“So, this month, April, we are marking a milestone in our range of achievements, particularly concerning one of the commonest surgeries we do at Kelina Hospital, known as HoLEP.
“Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HolEP).
“Also, Kelina Hospital marks 500 HoLEP surgeries in six years. Kelina was the first hospital to do HoLEP in Nigeria in 2018.
“We’re introducing robotic surgery as well.
“They’re basically the same, just that in the case of robotic surgery, we use the robots to move the equipment in the body.’’
Undie noted that HoLEP is done for enlarged prostate obstructing urine flow.
“If obstruction is significant and is not relieved, it could damage the kidney, among other damages that it could cost, some of them life-threatening.
“HoLEP is superior to TURP or Open Prostate surgery as patients lose less blood, spend less time on catheters, spend less time on hospital admission , recover faster and return to work earlier.
“The American Urological Association and the European Association of Urology both recommend HoLEP as the best for prostates that are more than 80 to 100g in size.
“Patients who cannot pass urine and are catheterised are advised never to carry their catheters for several weeks before prostate surgery, as this causes a lot of complications including infection’’.
He expressed happiness that Dr Bertin Njinou Ngninkeu, a robotic surgeon, was joining the team.
According to him, Ngninkeu is a regular surgeon with the hospital, licensed to practice in Nigeria, and licensed by the American Medical Council to be with them.
Undie said it was disturbing that many Nigerians travelled abroad for even minor procedures.
He affirmed that Kelina hospital was equipped to offer similar health care services at even more affordable cost.
He encouraged Nigerians to seek treatment at Kelina Hospital instead of traveling abroad for routine procedures.
“We offer comparable, if not superior, care with advanced technology right here in Nigeria.”
“It is disheartening to see people fly abroad for routine procedures like appendectomy, hernia repair, lipoma excision, or prostate biopsy.
“These are procedures that typically take less than an hour.
“Travelling 12 hours for such minor surgeries not only reflects poorly on us, but it also exposes patients to unnecessary risk.
“Several patients have returned from overseas with complications, including infections, after minor procedures like prostate biopsy.
“We are just introducing new technology’’.
Erica Idoko, Head of Corporate Relations, Kelina Hospital, said staff and surgeons working in the hospital were periodically sent for training across the world to ensure the best knowledge and expertise is gained to give better health services to the public.
According to Idoko, the hospital also gives room for partnership with surgeons from around the world as long as they are licensed to operate in Nigeria
Dr Bertin Ngninkeu, a Urologist, emphasised the increasing prevalence of prostate cancer among black men globally, citing genetic factors as a primary reason.
Ngninkeu, a Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeon, emphasised the importance of early detection through Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests starting at age 40 for individuals with risk factors, such as a family history of prostate cancer.
According to him, timely diagnosis significantly improves treatment outcomes.
He also highlighted the benefits of good nutrition and said that people should consume food items like broccoli, cucumber, garlic, green tea, and cooked tomatoes, to help in cancer prevention.
Edited by Chioma Ugboma
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