Robotic surgery even for an emergency case of cholecystitis in the middle of the night... Gippeum Hospital surpasses 1,700 robotic cholecystectomies

[Financial News] A secondary hospital equipped to perform laparoscopic and robotic surgery around the clock, including nights and holidays, has surpassed 1,700 robotic cholecystectomies. Even patients with acute cholecystitis who arrive at the hospital in the middle of the night with severe abdominal pain can receive surgery.
Gippeum Hospital, a general hospital and a surgical specialty hospital designated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, reached a cumulative total of 1,700 robotic cholecystectomies last September.
As of the end of last year, Gippeum Hospital had performed at least 8,000 cholecystectomies in total. Among the 1,990 performed over the course of last year, there were no reported cases of surgical site infection (SSI). Its robotic surgery program also uses the single-port da Vinci SP robot, which requires only one incision at the navel.
Behind these results is an emergency surgery system staffed by surgical specialists around the clock. For conditions requiring prompt surgery, such as acute cholecystitis or appendicitis, on-call medical staff evaluate the patient’s condition and test results, then check operating-room and bed availability before performing laparoscopic or robotic surgery, including at night and on holidays. Patients whose conditions are difficult to treat at the hospital are transferred to a higher-level medical institution.
That same month, Hyeon In-geun, head of surgery at the hospital’s Gallstone Center, presented a comparison of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and robotic cholecystectomy at the 21st meeting of the Korean Society for Laparoscopic Surgery in Secondary Hospitals. The meeting was organized to improve laparoscopic surgical techniques and promote academic exchange among regional hub secondary medical institutions and surgical specialty hospitals. Surgical specialists and other attendees shared the latest knowledge and clinical experience in minimally invasive surgery.
Director Hyeon compared the advantages and disadvantages of single-incision laparoscopic surgery, which has been performed with increasing frequency in recent years, and robotic surgery, alongside multiport laparoscopic surgery, which has become the standard for operations on gallbladder disease.
According to the presentation, single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed through one incision at the navel, leaving a scar that is concealed within the navel and is not readily visible; it also places a relatively smaller cost burden on patients. However, the instruments can easily collide, and achieving triangulation is difficult, requiring a high level of surgical expertise. The possibility of an incisional hernia must also be considered.
Robotic cholecystectomy uses high-resolution 3D stereoscopic vision and articulating instruments, allowing precise surgery even in cases where dissection is difficult, such as acute cholecystitis with severe adhesions. On the other hand, the out-of-pocket costs associated with using a robot and the barriers to acquiring and operating the equipment were identified as practical challenges for secondary hospitals to consider.
Director Hyeon emphasized, “Both techniques can be good alternatives to conventional laparoscopic surgery, depending on the patient’s condition.” He added, “At secondary hospitals and surgical specialty hospitals, it is important to weigh the severity of the disease, the degree of gallbladder inflammation and any underlying conditions, as well as the patient’s financial burden and cosmetic preferences, and to choose the technique best suited to the patient.”
Gippeum Hospital is a local emergency medical institution designated by the head of Seocho District and receives emergency patients from Seocho District and nearby areas. It is also a Seoul-designated Moonlight Children’s Hospital, providing outpatient care from pediatric specialists on weekday evenings and on weekends and holidays so children can receive care without going to an emergency department.
Hospital Director Kang Yun-sik said, “Reaching 1,700 robotic cholecystectomies is the result of patients trusting Gippeum Hospital and entrusting their care to us.” He added, “We will continue to be a hospital that protects the health of local residents by providing emergency surgical care, emergency medical services and pediatric care.” 


[email protected] Jeong Myeong-jin, Medical Specialist Reporter