Overview & Institutional Strength
- Location & Scale: AMC is a major tertiary referral hospital in Seoul, South Korea, with 2,432 beds and huge capacity. Wikipedia
- Academic Affiliation: It is affiliated with the University of Ulsan College of Medicine. Wikipedia
- Robotic Surgery Center: AMC has a dedicated Robotic Surgery Center, with training infrastructure (robotic training center) in addition to its clinical operation. robotic.amc.seoul.kr
2. Robotic Infrastructure & Volume
- Robotic Systems: AMC operates 8 da Vinci robotic systems as per its institutional profile. ru.amc.seoul.kr+1
- Robotic Case Volume: According to its own data (2007–2023), AMC has performed 31,465 robotic surgeries across different specialties. ru.amc.seoul.kr
- Breakdown by Specialty (from AMC’s report): ru.amc.seoul.kr
- Urology: ~13,336 cases
- Obstetrics & Gynecology: ~4,096
- Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Surgery: ~3,569
- Colon & Rectal Surgery: ~2,928
- Endocrine Surgery: ~2,620
- Others: includes breast surgery, liver transplantation, head & neck, etc. ru.amc.seoul.kr
3. Key Clinical Areas & Achievements
- Colorectal Cancer / Colorectal Surgery
- AMC’s Colorectal Cancer Center has surpassed 3,000 robotic colorectal cancer surgeries. 아시아경제+2Asia Economy+2
- They perform single-port robotic colorectal surgery and even complex surgeries for colorectal cancer with liver metastasis. 아시아경제
- Outcomes are very strong: low complication rate (~3% serious complications within 30 days) for complex or recurrent cancer surgeries. Asia Economy
- Their 5-year survival rates for rectal cancer: ~96.6% for Stage 1, ~94.8% for Stage 2. 아시아경제
- Thoracic / Esophageal Surgery
- They have done ~500 robotic esophageal cancer surgeries, reportedly the most in Asia (as of 2021). 한국국제의료협회
- For esophagectomy, AMC uses 4-5 small incisions (robotic), reducing trauma compared to open surgery. Asia Economy+1
- According to a report, in one year they had zero surgical deaths within 1 month post-esophageal surgery — highlighting the safety of their robotic techniques. Asia Economy
- Endocrine Surgery
- AMC has performed 1,000+ retroperitoneal adrenalectomies (endoscopic + robotic) via the dorsal (retroperitoneal) approach. Asia Economy
- They have progressed to single-port robotic adrenalectomy (using the da Vinci SP) for selected cases. Asia Economy
- Pediatric Surgery
- Their robotic center includes pediatric surgery: they have done various robotic procedures in children (e.g., choledochal cyst excision) safely. pc.astr.or.kr
4. Training & Education
- AMC’s Robotic Surgery Center includes a Robot Training Center — meaning they don’t just treat patients, but also train surgeons in robotic techniques. robotic.amc.seoul.kr
- It’s designated as an “Epicenter” for International Training in Robotic Surgery, reflecting its global role in robotic surgical education. ru.amc.seoul.kr
5. Innovation & Research
- Liver Surgery / Hepatobiliary: Studies have compared robotic vs laparoscopic liver resection at AMC, showing the center is contributing to evidence on robotic hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery. surgery.med.tma.uz
- Complex / High-Risk Cases: They apply robotics to complex oncologic cases (e.g., metastatic colorectal cancer), suggesting a high technical competency and confidence. 아시아경제
- Patient Outcomes: Their long-term cancer outcome data (especially for colorectal) suggests robotic surgery is not just a technology showpiece but contributes to excellent oncologic outcomes. Asia Economy
6. Patient Benefits & Safety
- Minimally invasive robotic surgery allows smaller incisions, less tissue trauma, and likely reduced pain.
- In esophageal cancer surgery, robotics has contributed to zero early (1 month) mortality in a reportedly high-volume center. Asia Economy
- Use of robotics in adrenal surgery reduces disturbance to surrounding organs (due to retroperitoneal approach) → faster recovery, fewer complications. Asia Economy
- Their colorectal robot program’s low complication rate (~3%) even in complex or metastatic cases indicates strong surgical safety. Asia Economy
7. Challenges / Considerations
- Resource Intensity: Running 8 robotic systems implies significant financial and logistical investment (equipment, maintenance, trained staff).
- Patient Selection: Not all patients/cancers are equally suited for robotic surgery — for example, very advanced disease or specific anatomical challenges may limit use.
- Training Demand: As a training center, they must balance high surgical volume with education responsibilities.
8. Strategic Strengths
- High Volume, High Complexity: AMC has done tens of thousands of robotic cases, including complex oncologic surgeries.
- Multi-Specialty Coverage: Their robotic program spans urology, colorectal, endocrine, thoracic, pediatric — not confined to a niche.
- Global Training Hub: As an international training epicenter, AMC is influential in shaping the next generation of robotic surgeons.
- Innovation Leader: Their use of single-port robotics, retroperitoneal approaches, and complex cancer surgeries shows they are pushing surgical boundaries.
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