Editor’s Note: To promote international academic exchange and share the latest advancements in colorectal surgery, Professor Ding Kefeng’s team at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine meticulously organized the 2026 "China-Spain-Canada Colorectal Surgery Clinical Practice Symposium." The conference invited Professor Antonio Arroyo, President of the Spanish Association of Coloproctology (AECP) and Director of Surgery at Hospital General Universitario de Elche, as the keynote speaker to deliver an in-depth presentation on the Hugo robotic surgery system.Taking this opportunity, Oncology Frontier conducted an exclusive interview with Professor Arroyo. As a leading figure in minimally invasive surgery and ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) in Europe, he pointed out that the core competitiveness of the Hugo robotic surgery system lies in its “modular arms” and “open console.” This design not only optimizes ergonomics and intraoperative teaching but also achieves superior functional outcomes in rectal cancer and right/left hemicolectomy compared to traditional laparoscopy. Looking ahead, he emphasized that 5G remote surgery will break geographical barriers and reshape the global healthcare ecosystem. Furthermore, what struck the international expert most was the clinical expertise of his Chinese counterparts, as well as the “big family” atmosphere and humanistic care maintained despite high-intensity workloads.
Oncology Frontier: What are the core operational advantages of the Hugo platform in colorectal surgery? In which specific procedures does its cost-effectiveness truly surpass laparoscopy?
Professor Arroyo:
Transitioning from traditional laparoscopy to robot-assisted surgery, based on our current clinical experience, offers advantages in several dimensions:
First, system configuration flexibility and ergonomic design. The current modular robotic arm system features high adaptability to the operating room environment. We can easily transport the equipment between operating rooms and flexibly adjust the layout of the robotic arms according to surgical requirements. More importantly, the open console design significantly optimizes the surgeon’s experience—it allows the operator to perform surgery in a seated position similar to watching high-definition television. This non-isolated operating environment markedly improves comfort during lengthy procedures.
Second, it facilitates surgical team synergy and teaching. The open console breaks down the barriers of traditional closed systems. During surgery, the lead surgeon can naturally maintain eye contact and verbal communication with circulating nurses, assistants, and observing students. This open environment provides a significant advantage for clinical teaching and team coordination.
Third, improvement in clinical prognosis. We have observed that compared to traditional laparoscopy, robotic systems offer distinct advantages in surgical field exposure and the precision of anatomical dissection. As we often say, ‘what you see is what you get.’ When the view is clearer and the manipulation is more stable, the quality of the surgery is naturally more assured.
Finally, based on our multidimensional “radar chart” analysis comparing laparoscopic and robotic frames, robot-assisted surgery scores higher in comprehensive functional outcomes for both rectal cancer and right/left colon cancer surgeries. This is the core reason we advocate for this technology.
Oncology Frontier: Does Hugo’s open console design facilitate the integration of 5G technology for remote “one-to-many” guidance? As remote surgery becomes a reality, do you believe this will break geographical limitations and allow top expert resources to reach a wider range?
Professor Arroyo:
The first question likely touches on a core bottleneck in the next phase of robotic surgery development—specifically, the technical metrics and feasibility of remote connectivity. Frankly speaking, under the current technological and regulatory environment, achieving stable cross-border connections and completing corresponding medical billing does present objective obstacles. However, I want to emphasize that when evaluating the future of robotic surgery, we must not limit ourselves to the physical space of our own hospital or region. The true future lies in transcending geographical boundaries to achieve transnational remote collaboration.
This is critically important for the procurement decisions and adoption strategies of next-generation robotic systems in medical institutions. Imagine if, in the future, we could rely on high-speed, stable networks to enable top surgeons from different countries to collaborate on the same procedure or provide real-time remote guidance. That would completely reshape the global ecosystem of robotic surgery. This is not just a technical proposition; it is the overarching trend for future medical collaboration.
Oncology Frontier: Through this China-Spain-Canada Colorectal Surgery Clinical Practice Symposium, what specific impressions did you gain regarding the surgical philosophy or technical details of your Chinese colleagues? What new insights or inspirations have you gained from this exchange?
Professor Arroyo:
We are truly impressed by the professional level of Chinese surgeons; the technological equipment here is equally astounding. However, what shocked us even more was the sheer volume of surgeries performed. In this team alone, they complete 15 to 20 colorectal surgeries per day, amounting to nearly 50 procedures for the entire hospital by the end of the week. That is a huge number.
Given the combination of high case volume, advanced technology, and exquisite surgical skills, the clinical results achieved are naturally outstanding. Additionally, what deeply moved me was the humanistic atmosphere—the entire team displayed a cohesion akin to a “big family.” Every staff member in the operating room interacts like family. This experience has been incredibly beneficial to me, particularly the spirit of teamwork and humanistic care that permeates both inside and outside the surgical environment.
