Kelina Hospital Reports Over 50 Robotic Prostate Cancer Surgeries in One Year

 

By Atlantic Reports

Kelina Hospital says it has performed more than 50 robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy procedures within one year, expanding its provision of specialist surgery for men with prostate cancer in Nigeria.

The hospital’s President, Dr Celsus Undie, disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos on Saturday, where its management outlined surgical achievements and called for government support to improve access to advanced medical equipment.

Undie, a consultant urological surgeon, said the hospital’s robotic surgery programme was run entirely by Nigerian surgeons resident in the country.

He argued that expanding domestic treatment capacity could reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for specialist care.

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy involves removing the prostate gland and surrounding tissue through small incisions, using instruments controlled by a surgeon. The robotic system assists the operation rather than performing it independently. NCI

Hospital Reports Faster Recovery

Undie said the hospital had performed robotic prostate surgery weekly since June 2026 and that none of the patients treated during that period had required a blood transfusion.

He also said more than half of its patients undergoing urological surgery were discharged within 24 hours.

These figures represent the hospital’s account of its results. The supplied material did not include detailed patient data, complication rates or comparative evidence supporting its claims of less painful recovery and better functional outcomes.

Robotic surgery does not guarantee better urinary or sexual function. The United States National Cancer Institute cites a randomised trial in which these outcomes were similar between robotic and open prostatectomy at 24 months. NCI

Treatment Decisions and Sexual Health

Undie encouraged men to seek assessment before prostate cancer advanced, while acknowledging concerns about erectile dysfunction following surgery.

He said some patients recovered erectile function naturally, while others required medicines, injections or penile implants.

Prostate cancer treatment can affect sexual function, particularly when nerves or blood vessels are damaged. The effects vary between patients, making discussion of treatment risks and recovery expectations an essential part of care. NCI

Although Undie emphasised surgery for cancer confined to the prostate, treatment is not the same for every patient. Depending on the disease and individual circumstances, options can include surgery, radiotherapy or monitoring through active surveillance. NCI

Mr Joseph Ogah, who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at Kelina Hospital in 2012, told the gathering that he remained well and sexually active.

His testimony offered an individual account of recovery, rather than evidence of the outcome every patient should expect.

Financing and Access

Undie also said the hospital performed what it described as Nigeria’s first robotic radical nephrectomy in 2025, a procedure involving removal of a kidney.

The claim of national precedence was not independently established in the supplied account.

He urged government to make affordable financing available to private hospitals so they could acquire equipment, expand treatment capacity and reduce medical tourism.

The hospital’s Board Chairman, Mr Ifeanyi Anago, said it had performed more than 7,000 surgeries, including procedures involving patients with diabetes, heart failure or kidney failure.

Anago also reported a very low mortality rate. However, the percentage supplied lacked a clear reporting period and supporting calculation, limiting its usefulness in assessing surgical safety.

Dr Kenechi Nedosa, Chief Medical Director of Kelina Hospital, Abuja, said advances in surgical care had improved patients’ quality of life.

Nigeria’s Prostate Cancer Burden

The International Agency for Research on Cancer’s GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates put Nigeria’s prostate cancer burden at 24,396 new cases and 15,176 deaths in that year. The disease ranked first among men for both cancer incidence and cancer deaths. gco.iarc.who.int

For patients, expanding surgical capacity is one part of the challenge. The hospital’s announcement did not specify treatment prices, financing arrangements for patients or long-term follow-up results, all of which matter in determining how widely its services can benefit men needing care.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.