Robotic surgery is a reality in Manaus. The technology, once found only in the Southeast and South of the country, is now available in the Amazonas capital with the da Vinci® system.

The news is of particular interest to patients with prostate cancer and kidney cancer, conditions in which robotics offers clear advantages, and who previously needed to undergo this type of surgery out of state.

Overview of robotic surgery worldwide

Robotic surgery is no longer a novelty and has become the reference technique for several urological procedures. The da Vinci® system, manufactured by Intuitive Surgical, has been in clinical use for more than two decades, since the 2000s.

By early 2026, there were already more than 11,000 da Vinci® systems installed worldwide, with more than 10 million surgeries performed. So robotic surgery is not a fad: it is a modality with a solid scientific foundation. The da Vinci system, from Intuitive Surgical, is the most studied and mature platform on the market (more than 2 decades of use). In 2025, the da Vinci was used in about 3,153,000 procedures worldwide, 18% more than in 2024, with more than 11,100 systems installed on the planet. Other platforms, such as Hugo RAS, Versius, and Toumai, are still in an early stage, with scarcer literature and less robust evidence.

Among the factors that support this growth:

Greater precision: the articulated instruments and three-dimensional vision allow fine movements in small spaces.
Less bleeding: the risk of blood transfusion is lower.
Faster recovery, with a consequently superior cosmetic result.
Greater preservation of normal anatomical structures, with better functional outcomes. In prostate surgery, there is greater preservation of nerves and tissues linked to urinary control and sexual function. In kidney surgery, greater preservation of healthy renal tissue.

These advantages help explain the exponential growth of robotic surgery each year.

The advance of robotics in Brazil

Brazil has kept pace with worldwide growth. The number of robotic platforms in the country currently exceeds 110 units distributed across the 26 states. For a long time, these systems were concentrated in the Southeast and South, with emphasis on São Paulo. In recent years, new platforms entered the market and the technology advanced to other regions. More recently, the robot reached the North of the country (Belém, Goiás), and today it is available in Manaus.

In the public sector progress is slow (only 9 consoles in the SUS), but 2025 brought a relevant milestone: ANS included robotic radical prostatectomy in the List of Procedures, with mandatory coverage by health plans starting in April 2026.

Where to find robotic surgery in Manaus?

The arrival of the robot in Manaus happened through two healthcare centers in the capital, which structured their robotic surgery programs:

Hospital Samel: It was the institution that brought the first robotic surgery platform to the region.
Hospital Santa Júlia: structured and inaugurated its own robotic surgery program, expanding the service offering in the city.

What changed for the patient in Manaus?

Having robotic surgery in the city changes the routine for those who need the procedure. Before, the patient had to travel to São Paulo or other capitals, with the costs and logistics of airfare and lodging. This remains an option we offer our patients when they wish to operate at a referral center such as São Paulo.

When the patient undergoes surgery in Manaus, the surgery and follow-up take place close to family and the support network. We provide continuous care from the initial evaluation through postoperative visits.

The goals of robotic surgery

Robotic surgery treats the main oncologic diseases in urology, and each surgery has its own goals. Robotic prostatectomy is the removal of the prostate and the seminal vesicles (glands connected to the prostate) with the aid of the robot, indicated in the treatment of prostate cancer, in which early diagnosis improves the chances of cure.

In the prostate, the surgery has five main goals, known as the Pentafecta:

Complete removal of the cancer.
Negative surgical margins, with no tumor at the edges of the removed tissue.
Recovery of urinary control.
Preservation of sexual function.
Absence of postoperative complications.

Each of these goals depends on the team's experience and the planning of each case. Among them, recovery of erectile function is usually patients' greatest concern.

In kidney cancer, there are three goals, known as Trifecta: remove the entire tumor with clear margins, preserve as much kidney function as possible, and avoid postoperative complications.

Coverage by health insurance plans

As of April 1, 2026, robotic prostatectomy became mandatory coverage by health insurance plans in Brazil. It is the first robotic surgery included in the list of the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), following a 2025 recommendation by the commission that evaluates new technologies for the health system.

In practice, patients with an indication for robotic prostatectomy for prostate cancer now have the right to the procedure through their health plan, within the coverage rules. Before scheduling, it is worth checking the plan’s credentialed network and confirming whether robotic surgery is indicated for your case.