Successful KPJ Da Vinci Robotic Surgery Fulfils Patient’s Haj Dream

JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 20 (Bernama) — To fulfil her lifelong wish of performing the haj pilgrimage last May, Zaliha Abd Rahman underwent a hysterectomy just a month before leaving for the holy land.

Initially anxious about the short recovery period, the 50-year-old mother of five found hope in the Da Vinci robotic surgical system at KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital, becoming the first patient in the KPJ Southern Zone network to undergo the advanced procedure.

“I met Dr Sharifah in March and was told I needed surgery. Since I was preparing for the haj, I wanted to make sure my health was in good shape. I looked up a lot about the Da Vinci system online, but most of the information I found was from overseas.

“What made me feel more at ease was reading that surgeons can get tired (leading to hand tremors) during manual surgery, but the  Da Vinci system keeps everything consistent and precise,” she said.

Zaliha expressed gratitude for the procedure, which allowed her to recover fully in just two weeks.

“I was surprised, as the pain was minimal, and I was able to walk the day after surgery. As a working mother preparing for the haj, it eased my worries,” she said.

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in Reproductive Medicine at KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital, Dr Sharifah Shahirah Syed Hashim, who led the surgery, described the Da Vinci technology as a milestone in Malaysian gynaecology.

“With Da Vinci, patients rely less on painkillers, incisions are smaller, and recovery is faster. It provides a better alternative to conventional surgery,” she told Bernama.

She explained that the system has three key components: the patient-side cart, used for preparation and screen setup; the surgeon console, where the specialist controls the instruments; and the monitor unit, which acts as the ‘brain’ of the technology.

“The instruments mimic my movements on the console on a finer scale, reducing hand movements and increasing precision. This allows a level of accuracy impossible to achieve manually,” she said.

“In addition, the system provides clear 360-degree visualisation, offering a comprehensive view of the surgical area that was previously impossible with conventional techniques,” Dr Sharifah Shahirah said.

She added that before being certified to operate the system, she underwent five months of intensive training starting in October last year, which included online modules, simulations, video systems, and animal surgeries.

“Afterward, we observed actual cases, received one-on-one guidance from experienced specialists, and had our initial surgeries supervised for one to nine cases,” she said.

Dr Sharifah Shahirah performed her first robotic-assisted surgery in March this year, making her one of the first specialists in Malaysia to carry out gynaecological procedures using the Da Vinci system.

The Da Vinci robotic surgical system uses a surgeon-controlled robotic arm, enabling minimally invasive procedures with smaller incisions, greater precision, reduced risk, and faster recovery.

KPJ Healthcare Berhad currently operates two Da Vinci units at KPJ Johor Specialist Hospital and KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital 2, with plans to install two more machines soon, expanding access to robotic treatment for additional patients.

–BERNAMA

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