Robotic Colorectal Surgery in Barcelona: Da Vinci 5th generation and Watch & Wait

Surgery is performed by Dr. Patricia Tejedor, who holds two robotic fellowships and sits on the ESCP Committee. She is the team's reference for robotic colorectal surgery and operates at Centro Medico Teknon, within a programme that combines robotic surgery with organ preservation strategies in rectal cancer.

It is active surveillance, without immediate surgery, in rectal cancer patients who achieve a complete clinical response after neoadjuvant treatment. Prof. Garcia Aguilar is one of the principal investigators of the OPRA protocol, which defines the selection criteria. It requires frequent monitoring and surgery if the tumour returns.

It offers greater precision in confined anatomical spaces such as the pelvis, three-dimensional vision and less blood loss. That translates into faster recovery and better preservation of the nerves controlling continence and sexual function, two consequences that shape a patient's life long after the operation itself.

It depends on the exact height of the tumour, the response to previous treatment and each patient's anatomy. Robotic surgery widens the chances of preserving the sphincter, because it allows precise work in the narrow pelvis. Individual assessment by the committee is essential before giving any answer.

With ERAS enhanced recovery protocols the average stay is 3 to 5 days, clearly shorter than with open surgery. More complex resections may need a day or two more. Discharge is decided by the return of bowel function and tolerance of food, not by a fixed number of days.

Yes. Centro Medico Teknon has agreements with the main private health insurers in Spain. Cover for robotic surgery depends on each policy and on prior authorisation, so the coordinator reviews your case and explains what your insurer covers and what would fall outside before you take any step.

Yes. A significant share of our patients travel from other regions of Spain or from abroad. The coordinator advises on travel and accommodation, groups the pre-operative tests into a few days and lets you send reports in advance, so the trip is only made once there is a concrete proposal.

Fill in the form on this page or call +34 660 658 276. The coordinator responds within 24 hours and tells you which reports, colonoscopy and MRI to send. With that documentation, the committee assesses the case and proposes a concrete plan.