A VIDEO of a Newport pensioner’s operation using a robot has been posted online by a surgeon who saved his life.

WARNING: Some graphic content of surgery

David Lewis, of Hendre Farm Gardens, travelled to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough earlier this year after developing a parathyroid tumour in his chest.

When complications emerged from surgery at Cardiff’s Heath hospital, 72-year-old was left in “limbo land”, as a triple heart bypass in 2006 left him unable to have any invasive surgery due to the risks.

After several knock backs from hospitals, cardiothoracic surgeon Joel Dunning removed the tumour at Middlesbrough’s James Cooke University Hospital with the help of robotic equipment.

“The state of the health service in wales at the moment leaves a lot to be desired and is a postcode lottery, Mr Lewis said

“After 6 hours of surgery Joel with his team removed the tumour and he told me it was a rare case and put the video on Youtube.

“I can't thank Joel enough as I am 72 years old and hope other people will benefit from this and not give up”.

Several hospitals across the UK use assistive robotic surgery with ‘Da Vinci’ machines – equipment offering enhanced 3D vision and specialised instruments such as tiny cameras and tools.

Cardiothoracic surgeon at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Joel Dunning, said the robot gives “amazing vision and precision” to surgical procedures.

In the case of Mr Lewis, he added the team used a “special dye to see where the bypass graft was so we were confident we could safely carry out the procedure. “

“We brought a team together of multi-disciplinary specialists to fix a unique problem. That’s what’s so good about James Cook – all the different specialties are here under one roof,” he added.

Mr Lewis – a former caretaker at Caerleon Town Hall – is now recovering and thanked several for their support including Mr Dunning and his team, his children and grandson Cian.

“Parathyroid tumours are a silent killer and are not easily diagnosed but there is light at the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

“I want as many people as possible to see this video and to see the wonderful work this man is doing at the James Cook hospital and that that operation it isn’t a daunting thing.

“I can’t speak more highly of the team and I want to thank everybody in the hospital from the admin staff to the nurses and the surgical team”.