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The Fryderyk Chopin University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów has surpassed the 2,000-operation mark using the da Vinci robot
Over 2,000 operations assisted by a surgical robot
The Fryderyk Chopin University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów (USK in Rzeszów) has received a certificate confirming that it has performed over 2,000 operations using the da Vinci robotic system. This marks the next stage in the development of robotic surgery in the region and is a testament to the expertise of the teams who carry out modern, minimally invasive procedures on a daily basis.
Over 2,000 operations is not a one-off success, but the result of a consistently developed programme: the organisation of operating theatre work, the training of surgeons and the collaboration of many teams. Last year alone, we performed around 700 robotic procedures in urology, gynaecology, gynaecological oncology and general surgery. This certificate confirms that robotic surgery in Rzeszów is part of everyday clinical practice, rather than a one-off project,” emphasises Marcin Rusiniak, director of the University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów.
The hospital’s first robotic operation was performed in May 2021. The milestone of 1,000 procedures was reached in July 2024. Since then, the number of operations has doubled, and robotic surgery has become an integral part of the work of several surgical specialities.
Medical advances at the very highest global standard have become a reality at our hospital. We are one of the leading centres for robotic surgery in Poland, attracting doctors not only from within the country but also from abroad to undergo training here. This is a source of immense pride for the entire team,” notes Prof. Adam Reich, MD, PhD, Rector of the University of Rzeszów.
In January 2026, a second robotic surgery system was commissioned at the University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów. The hospital currently has eight certified surgical teams operating using the da Vinci system. Thanks to the operation of these two systems, the number of procedures has increased and waiting times for patients eligible for surgical treatment have been reduced.
The use of robotic technology in the treatment of cancer patients allows us to employ some of the most advanced surgical methods. This solution offers greater precision, reduces the risk of complications and adverse events, and at the same time leads to a safer and more favourable post-operative recovery,” explains Prof. Tomasz Kluz, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Gynaecology, Gynaecological Oncology and Obstetrics at the University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów.
A key distinguishing feature of the centre is its provision of a full range of oncological urological procedures. In robotic urology, the centre performs radical prostatectomies, radical cystectomies with advanced urinary diversion, partial and radical nephrectomies, and nephroureterectomies. At the same time, the centre carries out advanced gynaecological and gynaecological-oncological operations, procedures for the treatment of deep-infiltrating endometriosis, urogynaecological procedures, and operations in the fields of general and oncological surgery.
Such a wide range of procedures enables this single centre of excellence to treat patients with the most complex cancers of the urinary tract, reproductive organs and gastrointestinal tract, as well as female patients requiring advanced gynaecological and urogynaecological treatment.
The Department of Urology and Urological Oncology is consistently expanding its robotic surgery programme, providing patients with access to state-of-the-art treatments for cancers of the urinary tract. We are currently the only centre in the Podkarpacie region performing the full spectrum of robotic urological oncology procedures, including the treatment of prostate, kidney and bladder cancer. “This means that residents of the region can benefit from treatment of the highest standard without having to travel to distant centres,” explains Dr Krzysztof Balawender, MD, PhD, Professor at the University of Rzeszów and Head of the Department of Urology and Urological Oncology at the University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów.
Simply having a robotic system does not guarantee the quality of treatment. The robot does not operate independently – it is a tool in the surgeon’s hands. The operator’s experience, the preparation of the entire team and the number of procedures performed are of key importance. With over 2,000 operations, eight certified teams and a wide range of procedures performed, the Podkarpackie Centre for Robotic Surgery at the University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów is the most experienced centre for robotic surgery in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship and one of the leaders nationwide.
The success of the robotic surgery centre is not down to the robot alone. It is, above all, down to the people – doctors, nurses, surgical technicians and the entire teams who ensure patient safety every day – emphasises Dr Jakub Kempisty, the director’s representative for the Podkarpackie Robotic Surgery Centre at the University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów.
The centre combines patient care, training of medical staff, scientific research, health education and international cooperation. The hospital runs training courses for doctors, nurses, surgical technicians and surgical teams. These include working on simulators, observing procedures, assisting during operations and gradually preparing surgeons to work independently with the robotic system.
The ability to use the robotic system opens up new prospects for development for our team and enables us to perform procedures to the highest standard. “Despite numerous organisational and infrastructural challenges, we remain among the leaders in modern surgery in the Podkarpacie region, consistently raising the standards of patient care,” adds Dr Jacek Pszeniczny, MD, Head of the Department of General and Oncological Surgery at the University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów.
The hospital also trains teams from other centres, including doctors from Poland and Ukraine, whilst medical students at the University of Rzeszów are also being introduced to robotic surgery.
The University Clinical Hospital in Rzeszów is now one of the fastest-growing centres for robotic surgery in Poland. The rate at which the number of procedures is increasing, the expansion of the range of procedures on offer, and consistent investment in the teams mean that the hospital is currently among the top five centres in the country in terms of the number of operations performed with the assistance of the da Vinci system. This confirms that robotic surgery in Rzeszów is a mature, high-volume clinical programme,” says Artur Ostrowski, Managing Director of da Vinci at Synektik SA.
fot. Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny im. Fryderyka Chopina w Rzeszowie
