Brussels, August 4, 2025 – The Europe Today: UZ Brussel has reached a groundbreaking global milestone by completing 100 robot-assisted surgeries for patients suffering from lymphedema — a condition characterized by painful and persistent swelling in the limbs, often resulting from cancer treatments.
Lymphedema arises when the lymphatic system is disrupted, leading to significant discomfort and limited mobility. Speaking about the stigma associated with the condition, Dr. Alexandru Nistor of UZ Brussel said, “Lymphedema is still too often a taboo subject. Cancer survivors are told to be grateful they’re alive and learn to live with the swollen limb for the rest of their lives. But for many, it’s worse than the cancer they survived.”
The procedures, mostly performed under local anaesthesia, allow patients to remain conscious and even interact during surgery. “Patients lie comfortably on the operating table, watch the surgery on a TV screen—like a cinema—and we explain what’s happening. We talk, we laugh, and they leave smiling, with visibly less swelling,” added Dr. Nistor.
The milestone makes UZ Brussel the world’s most experienced hospital in this specific form of robotic microsurgery using the Symani Surgical System. Dr. Alexandru Nistor, who personally performed all 100 surgeries, is now recognized as the most experienced robotic lymphedema microsurgeon globally.
“This is not just a success for our hospital—it’s a leap forward in the future of surgery,” said Dr. Moustapha Hamdi of UZ Brussel. “The Symani microsurgical robot marks a turning point in the evolution of plastic surgery. We are proud to be writing surgical history.”
While lymphedema has traditionally been managed with compression therapy and manual lymphatic drainage, robotic lymphovenous bypass offers a minimally invasive and long-term surgical solution. UZ Brussel emphasized, “A single minimally invasive procedure can lead to visible and lasting improvement in symptoms and limb function.”
