The Obispo Polanco University Hospital in Teruel has taken an important step in incorporating advanced technology with the launch of its robotic surgery programwhich has become firmly established in its first months of operation. Since it began operating at the end of 2025, this system has transformed the daily routine in the operating rooms of the Teruel hospital.
In this initial period, the hospital has already exceeding 60 robotic interventions And it is on the verge of reaching between 65 and 70 procedures, according to the center's own projections. The goal is to consolidate this line of work, make the most of the robot, and gradually extend its use to a greater number of patients and pathologies.
A rapidly expanding robotic surgery program in Teruel
The robotic surgery program at the Obispo Polanco University Hospital has been discontinued. deploying progressively Since its implementation, it has quickly gone from being a fledgling experiment to becoming an increasingly common tool in the operating rooms of the Aragonese center.
According to the data released, the hospital has managed consolidate this organizational modelIntegrating robotic technology into daily practice without disrupting conventional procedures. The goal is for robotic surgery to cease being an exceptional procedure and become a standard option within the range of services offered.
The implementation of the program responds to the intention of improve the quality of care and surgical precisionThis also facilitates access to advanced techniques for the population of Teruel and its surrounding area. In this way, patients can benefit from highly complex procedures without having to travel to other referral hospitals.
This deployment is part of the Aragonese healthcare system's strategy of to promote technological innovation in centers outside major cities, with the idea of ​​reducing territorial inequalities and bringing medical advances to less populated areas.
Specialties involved and volume of interventions
In these first months of operation, the robot's activity has extended to three surgical specialtiesGeneral and Digestive Surgery, Gynecology, and Urology. These are areas where minimally invasive surgery offers clear advantages in precision and recovery.
Among them, the one that carries the greatest workload is the General and Digestive SurgeryThis brings the total to 35 procedures performed using the robotic system. These procedures encompass both oncological processes and complex abdominal cavity surgeries.
The second most active specialty is Gynecology, with 10 procedures performed using this technology. In this field, the robot is being used for surgeries that require high precision in narrow and delicate anatomical spaces.
For its part, the Urology has been incorporated more recently She joined the program, but has already participated in 5 interventions overall. Although she is the most recent addition, her participation is expected to increase as the team gains experience and the indications for her work expand.
The center's forecast is that all the specialties involved increase their volume of activity in the coming months, as surgical schedules stabilize and new cases eligible for this type of approach are incorporated.
Predominance of oncological pathology and complex surgeries
A large part of the interventions performed with the robot at the Obispo Polanco Hospital are aimed at patients with oncological pathologiesIn this type of procedure, the need to perform very precise dissections and to respect healthy structures as much as possible makes robotic assistance especially useful.
Robotic surgery allows a greater accuracy in movementsImproved visibility in the surgical field and more favorable ergonomics for the surgeon are key aspects when handling tumors or highly sensitive tissues. This is especially relevant in abdominal, gynecological, or urological cancers.
In addition to cancer cases, the robot is also being used for complex surgical procedures While not always related to cancer, these procedures do require a high degree of precision. They include interventions such as hiatal hernia repair and the treatment of recurrent inguinal hernias.
In the field of pelvic floor surgery, robotic surgery is used to reconstruction and correction techniques of different anatomical alterations, where accuracy in suturing and respect for nerves and blood vessels are fundamental to obtaining good functional results.
These types of surgeries, which traditionally might have required more aggressive approaches, now benefit from smaller incisions and more controlled maneuversThis translates into less postoperative pain and a more manageable recovery for patients.
Frequency of robot use and organization of operating rooms
The surgical robot at the Obispo Polanco University Hospital is used between four and five times a weekThis reflects a remarkable level of activity for a program still in its expansion phase. This frequency allows for the equipment to be used efficiently without overloading the regular programming.
The robotic surgery sessions are distributed in morning and afternoon schedulesThis allows professionals to balance patient care with time dedicated to training and technical adjustments. This flexible organization facilitates the incorporation of new interventions without overwhelming the schedule.
Having several sessions per week also helps teams maintain a continuous learning curveRegular repetition of procedures helps to consolidate skills, optimize surgical times, and improve coordination between the different profiles involved.
From a hospital management perspective, this intensive use of robots has repercussions on a improved overall performance of the surgical suiteby allowing more complex interventions to be scheduled within a framework of safety and efficiency.
Furthermore, by organizing operating room schedules by combining robotic surgery with other techniques, the center can to better adapt to the needs of each patientChoosing the most appropriate approach in each case and making the most of the available resources.
Continuing education and teamwork
A key aspect of the robotic surgery program at the Obispo Polanco Hospital is the firm commitment to continuing education of professionalsThe use of this technology requires specific preparation and constant training to ensure patient safety.
The training plan combines the use of simulators with practical training in the operating roomeven in advanced stages of program implementation. This allows surgeons and other involved personnel to practice complex procedures in a controlled environment before applying them in real cases.
This learning process not only affects surgeons, but also the anesthesia and nursing teamsas well as the technical staff responsible for the assembly, calibration, and maintenance of the robot. Coordination among all of them is essential for each intervention to proceed smoothly.
The implementation of robotic surgery has therefore meant a collaborative work between multiple professional profilesFrom the surgical services involved to the management and leadership teams, this shared vision has allowed for the organization of resources, the definition of protocols, and the adjustment of the hospital's logistics.
Thanks to this coordinated effort, the center has managed to integrate robotic surgery into daily practice without causing disruption. significant disruptions to normal activityThis is especially relevant in a hospital that serves a large area.
Impact on patient safety and waiting lists
From a care perspective, those responsible for the program emphasize that the Robotic surgery has improved the safety of proceduresThe precision offered by the system helps to reduce errors, minimize bleeding, and decrease tissue damage.
As a result, a reduction of postoperative complications and a faster recovery, which in turn translates into a shorter hospital stay. Discharges can occur sooner, and the average length of stay after surgery tends to be shorter.
This reduction in stays allows beds to be freed up more quickly, which directly impacts the hospital's capacity to schedule new proceduresBy gaining more flexibility, it is possible to treat more patients in a similar period of time.
The increase in robot-related activity, along with the optimization of resources, thus contributes to alleviate waiting listsAlthough it does not eliminate them completely, it does help improve response times in certain pathologies that are candidates for minimally invasive approaches.
In a context like that of Teruel, where the population depends heavily on its reference hospital, this technological advance has a significant impact on access to advanced treatmentsavoiding unnecessary travel to other community centers or hospitals in other regions.
The robotic surgery program at the Obispo Polanco University Hospital has established itself as a solid commitment to Innovation applied to daily clinical practiceWith a growing volume of procedures, the involvement of several specialties, and a focus on continuing education and patient safety, this center in Teruel has become a leader in the integration of robotic technology in public hospitals. The regular use of the robot, its clear focus on oncological and complex pathologies, and improvements in recovery and waiting list management have positioned this center as a benchmark for incorporating robotic technology in the public hospital sector.
