If you’d like to discuss any symptoms or concerns with Mr Bille, or you’d just like a second opinion, you can call, email or book an appointment here.
Mr Andrea Bille
Robotically assisted surgical techniques
Mr Bille is experienced in using the Intuitive da Vinci Xi system for multiport surgery, which allows for multiple robotic arms through several small incisions, and the Intuitive da Vinci Sp system for single port procedures, which uses one robotic arm through a single incision.
Advanced robotically assisted approaches
The vast majority of Mr Bille’s practice involves his use of the state-of-the-art Da Vinci robotic surgical system, either Multiport Xi or Single Port Sp, to carry out minimally invasive surgery. These robotic tools provide Mr Bille with magnification and increased dexterity, supporting him as he completes the complex surgical manoeuvres required in lung procedures. The robotic console is his assistant, meaning he’s always in control, and it can’t move independently.
He can perform robotic resections of lung cancers, including reconstruction of your airways (sleeve), a resection and/or repair of your diaphragm or a resection of a mediastinal mass, which may be malignant as with a thymoma or neurogenic tumour, or benign as with a bronchogenic cyst.
Mr Bille treats over 90% of lung cancer thymomas and thoracic tumours using robotic surgery. This can significantly reduce the need to switch to open surgery which happens in less than 1% of cases, usually for oncological reasons.
Robotic surgery is proven to significantly improve patient recovery from surgery, and it improves the chance of successfully removing all cancerous tissue too. Mr Bille also uses a robotic surgery approach for benign conditions such as diaphragmatic endometriosis and hyperhidrosis.
Robotic diaphragm surgery
Robotic surgery is an effective and safe approach for treating diaphragmatic endometriosis. It helps remove any troublesome tissue and can improve your symptoms.
Mr Bille will use these robotic systems to enhance his dexterity, improve visualisation, increase precision and expand his range of motion. Specifically, this approach allows him to repair your diaphragm, safely re-establishing its normal function and preventing the need for a mesh.
Robotic surgery allows for endometrial tissues to be quickly and effectively removed, and it’s generally a safe procedure. However, there are the same risks of general complications that come with any surgery, such as bleeding and infection.
There are also some rare risks (less than 0.1%) that are specific to the procedure, such as pneumothorax, liver injury and neurological issues. Mr Bille will talk you through each step of the procedure in detail, so you can make an informed decision about what’s best for you.
It usually takes four to eight weeks to make a full recovery from robotic diaphragm surgery for endometriosis, although you should be able to return to light activities within a couple of weeks.
You should avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for up to six months.
Robotic surgery for hyperhidrosis
Robotic surgery can be used very effectively to treat hyperhidrosis, as it gives Mr Bille enhanced precision and control. He can use the robotic arms to precisely interrupt the sympathetic nerves in your chest, which will help to reduce your sweating.
Recovery tends to be quick, so you should be able to go home the same day or after an overnight stay and get back to your full everyday life before long. You’ll likely have some soreness for the first few days, and you should avoid any strenuous activity for about a week.
Robotic surgery for hyperhidrosis is a minimally invasive approach which greatly reduces the chance of any complications and has a much shorter recovery time compared to open surgery.
However, it still carries some general surgical risks such as bleeding and blood clots, infection, pneumothorax (a collapsed lung) and pain at the surgical site.
There are also specific risks that come with robotic surgery for hyperhidrosis:
- Compensatory hyperhidrosis is the most frequent complication, occurring in around 30% of cases. Excessive sweating can develop on other parts of your body, such as your back, chest and legs and can range from mild to severe. Your risk might be reduced with a robotic approach or by avoiding an extensive nerve resection.
- Horner's syndrome is a rare complication characterised by a droopy eyelid, a smaller pupil and decreased facial sweating on the affected side. The enhanced visualisation offered by the robotic system may help reduce this risk.
- Recurrent hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating that returns to the original areas. This happens when the nerves have been inadequately blocked or have regenerated.
- Severe bradycardia which causes your heart rate to slow, due to an interruption in your sympathetic chain (a key part of your nervous system). This is an extremely rare complication.
Robotic surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome
Robotic surgery can be used very effectively to treat thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). It can help Mr Bille to deliver a first rib resection, decompressing the nerves and blood vessels in your thoracic outlet.
Robotic surgery for TOS is a minimally invasive approach, which greatly reduces the chance of any complications and has a faster recovery time compared to open surgery.
However, the procedure still carries some general surgical risks such as bleeding and blood clots, infection, pneumothorax (a collapsed lung) and pain at the surgical site.
There are also specific risks that come with robotic surgery for TOS. These include:
- Neurovascular injuries, such as damage to your brachial plexus nerves, subclavian artery, or subclavian vein, which can be reduced with robotic approaches that provide enhanced precision and a clear, magnified 3D view.
- Persistent pain or a return of symptoms if your nerve compression is not fully relieved
- Damage to major blood vessels, such as your subclavian artery or vein, which may require open surgery to fix
- Fluid build-up from your thoracic duct
Although you may experience numbness and tenderness around the incisions for six to eight weeks, recovery from robotic surgery for TOS is much quicker than with traditional methods.
Mr Bille will encourage you to start moving around as soon as possible to prevent complications. You should be able to get back to desk work in two to four weeks, and light physical labour in around four to six weeks.