News story
1 May 2026
We are delighted to report that the ground-breaking da Vinci Robotic System, made possible because of the generous support of ACT supporters back in 2023, has reached another milestone for Addenbrooke’s. A team from the hospital has successfully completed the most complex robotic procedure at the hospital to date – a pancreaticoduodenectomy, or Whipple’s procedure as it is known – and is the first time this procedure has been carried out robotically in the East of England.
The Whipple’s procedure is likened to open heart surgery for the abdomen in terms of technical difficulty – and not one but two of these procedures were carried out within a matter of weeks at Addenbrooke’s, with both patients undergoing robotic assisted surgery to treat ampullary cancer (cancer at the bottom of the bile duct).
Each operation took around eight hours to perform, and required two consultant surgeons jointly operating the robotic consoles – and despite the length and complexity of the operations, both patients expressed their surprise at their fast recovery, lack of pain and reduced scarring; some of the many benefits that made ACT so keen to fundraise for the surgical robot back in 2023.
The milestone surgeries follow months of intense training and meticulous planning by teams at Addenbrooke’s to safely prepare for the procedures. Surgeons Mr Siong-Seng Liau (who anyone involved in the 2023 fundraising will be familiar with) and Mr Simon Harper completed additional robotic surgery courses, perioperative theatre staff did additional training, and a small team travelled to Amsterdam to observe live robotic Whipple’s procedures at a hospital specialising in complex pancreatic surgery.
On top of this, consultant radiologist and clinical lead for MRI, Dr David Bowden modelled all the scans in 3D, to allow teams to visualise the anatomy, structures and tumours in advance and to guide the navigation of the robotic consoles. During the procedures, two external surgeons or ‘proctors’ oversaw the operations to ensure the highest safety standards were met.
As the only centre in the East of England specialising in surgery of the liver, pancreas and bile ducts, performing a robotic Whipple’s procedure is a milestone for the region – and one that has been made possible through the support of everyone that fundraised and donated to ACT’s appeal in 2023.
Robotic surgery was first introduced at Addenbrooke’s in 2005 – again following a successful fundraising appeal by Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust. A second da Vinci robot was unveiled in 2023 following our successful appeal where supporters donated over £1.5m! The da Vinci Xi dual console surgical systems have revolutionised patient care and surgical training for no less than six specialities at Addenbrooke’s – urology, gynae-oncology, gynaecology, colorectal, ENT (ear, nose and throat), and HPB (Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary – diseases of the liver, pancreas and biliary tree).
The CUH Robotic Surgery Steering Group (RUG) worked with ACT and the Trust to set-up the multi-specialty robotic service. Chair of RUG and hepatobiliary surgeon, Mr Siong-Seng Liau said: “Since the introduction of multi-specialty robotic surgery at Addenbrooke’s more than three years ago, everything has been building up to this moment. The Whipple’s procedure is one of the most complex surgical procedures, so to have performed it robotically, safely and successfully, is hugely significant for the Trust and for our patients.”
Consultant HPB and robotic surgeon Mr Simon Harper, who carried out the operations with Mr Liau, said: “While the Whipple procedure is lifesaving, it is technically challenging and associated with significant risks. It is testament to the meticulous planning, training and preparation by so many teams that we’ve performed it robotically for the first time at Addenbrooke’s. We are thrilled by the success of these surgeries and how well the patients have recovered.”
Shelly Thake, Chief Executive of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust said: “Our supporters’ generosity in funding the surgical robot truly is the gift that keeps on giving. This remarkable achievement marks the first operation of its kind to be carried out in our region and is testament to how charitable funding can make an extraordinary difference to patient care and pioneering medical innovation. ACT is incredibly proud of what our community has enabled and the hospital teams that make these procedures possible.”
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