University Hospital Possesses World-Class Skill in Robotic Surgery Severance Hospital achieved its 2000th robotic surgery after three and half years of the introduction of daVinci Surgical System. The number of robotic surgeries has been increasing remarkably to reach some 1,108 operations last year. Severance Hospital celebrated the 2000th robotic surgery at the professor’s lounge in robotic surgery room on March 11, with distinguished guests including Dr. Ji Hoon-sang, president of Korean Hospital Association, Dr. Park Chang-il, President of Yonsei University Health System and Dr. Lee-chul, President of Severance Hospital. Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgery Center of Severance Hospital performed a total of 2,018 operations until March 1st, 2009, and 1,108 operations were performed last year. Significantly, more than 90% of operations were for removing cancer. Robotic surgery has many advantages in difficult operations which require fast recovery of patients and protection of nervous system around the operation site with its precise incision. According to a survey of 183 patients (134 males and 49 females) between the ages of 40 and 72 who underwent robotic surgery at Gangnam Severance Hospital earlier this year, 76% of the patients rated robotic surgery as “satisfactory.” Severance Hospital has been expanding applications of robotic surgery from prostate cancer to other cancers and cardiac disorder. Different from the rest of foreign medical institutions which apply robotic surgery only to specific clinics, clinics at Severance Hospital used the technology thoroughly. The hospital now possesses world-class skill and know-how in treating diseases which Koreans frequently suffer, while Western institutions are focused only on typical Westerners’ diseases such as prostate cancer. Severance Hospital is also running “Yonsei daVinci Training Center” for training doctors who want to start robotic surgery. The center is the first institution approved by Intuitive Surgical Incorporated as an education institution for robotic surgery. Medical staffs from many countries as well as domestic institutions are currently visiting the center to learn the skills.