Doctor Tan Si checks the recovery process of a child who had brain tumor surgery with an AI robot that was "returned" by many hospitals - Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Speaking at the seminar on December 22 announcing the event of the first 100 surgeries using AI robots, Meritorious Doctor, Master, Doctor, Specialist II Chu Tan Si, Head of Neurosurgery Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, said: "We are truly moved when witnessing the moments of patient revival."

Thanks to AI robots that operate on the brain and spinal cord, many patients have been able to walk again after years of paralysis or regain their sight after a long period of complete blindness; many children with dangerous brain tumors have been saved, bringing overwhelming happiness to their loved ones...

AI Robot with 4 cutting-edge technology systems

According to Dr. Tan Si, brain and spinal cord surgery using AI robots has outstanding advantages that traditional brain surgery techniques do not have. In traditional brain surgeries, doctors can only observe tumors, blood clots, and healthy brain tissue on separate X-ray, CT, and MRI films.

Doctors cannot see all the tissues inside the brain on the same image, cannot proactively locate a safe surgical path in advance, and there is a high risk of damaging healthy structures during surgery.

Meanwhile, the AI ​​Robot for brain and spinal cord surgery possesses 4 cutting-edge technology systems. First, the robot is capable of harmonizing MRI, CT, DSA, DTI… to create high-resolution 3D images, helping doctors clearly observe the relationship between tumors, blood clots and healthy brain structures on the same image.

Second, the technology allows the surgeon to perform a simulated surgery in advance, giving him more time to study and decide on the safest approach to the injury. During the actual surgery, the data from the simulated surgery is transmitted to the robot, helping to accurately locate the injury, guide the way and ensure the surgery goes according to plan.

Third, the robotic arm automatically moves flexibly according to surgical instruments or voice, creating a wide surgical field, helping doctors observe difficult locations in the brain, surpassing traditional techniques.

Fourth, the image from the robotic arm is displayed large and clear on the screen, helping the doctor operate more accurately.

When approaching the tumor, the doctor has an additional specialized "Cusa ultrasonic suction cutting" system to "shrink", reduce the size, suck and completely remove the brain tumor and spinal cord tumor. Therefore, the patient's neurological function will be maximally preserved, avoiding post-operative complications.

Tam Anh Hospital said that brain and spinal cord surgery using the AI ​​Modus V Synaptive robot helps patients reduce 20% of surgery time, 40% of hospital stay, and 79% of blood loss during surgery, while treatment costs can be 40 times lower than surgery in the US.

Awake surgery for hemorrhagic stroke

In particular, the AI ​​robot is applied by Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City in awake surgery for emergency cerebral hemorrhage. Awake surgery is a surgical method in which the patient remains awake, can move and interact throughout the surgery. Thanks to that, the doctor directly assesses neurological function when operating on the corresponding functional brain area.

A robot-assisted awake surgery only lasts about 40-60 minutes. Patients are not affected by anesthesia, reducing the risk of complications and can talk to relatives immediately after surgery.

Dr. Tan Si is the first and only person in Vietnam to study the ENRICH awake brain surgery technique using AI robots at the Aurora Neurological Research Institute (USA) and implement it at Tam Anh Hospital under the license of the Ministry of Health.

AI Technology Brain and Spinal Cord Surgery Center

Currently, the AI ​​Modus V Synaptive robot is applied by Tam Anh General Hospital in the treatment of 7 categories of diseases including: Supratentorial brain tumors, Infratentorial brain tumors, Intraventricular tumors, Midline brain tumors, Skull base brain tumors, Spinal canal tumors, Intraventricular hemorrhage; and will continue to expand.

Aiming to build a modern AI brain surgery center, in addition to AI neurosurgery robots, Tam Anh Hospital continues to equip more specialized and synchronized equipment to serve the expansion of brain and spinal cord surgery for more diseases.

"We continue to train and educate the next generation of young doctors, expanding and improving the application of these techniques," said Dr. Tan Si. Tam Anh General Hospital is licensed by the Ministry of Health to treat and train and expand the expertise in brain and spinal cord surgery using AI robots.