Surgeons will be enabled to remove tumors from early stage lung cancer patients more accurately A NEW procedure that uses robot-assisted technology will enable.

The National Heart Centre Singapore, NHCS, has carried out two lobectomies using the technology and have achieved success in both.

In the South-east Asia they were the first times robot-assisted lobectomies.

To remove the tumor probes are inserted in four small keyhole incisions each measuring between 1cm and 4cm that are made on the side of the body.

The procedure was known as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, VATS, was previously done by surgeons manually who held the probes.

Earlier the manoeuvrability of the instrument to the range of motion of the human hand was limited.

With early-stage cancer, the procedure that was used successfully on two patients in August, and this might be offered to more.

About 300 patients are seen every year and about a third are in the early stage.

Reports say that the procedure is much more safer and less painful.

Dr Su Jang Wen, a consultant at the National Heart Centre, said, "Because of the technology we are able to appreciate much better the visualization of the surgical fields and have a much more precise dissection and it also enhances the safety of the whole operation."