Debrecen4U April 9, 2026

Future Surgery in Debrecen: Robot‑Assisted Operations and a Modern Audiology Centre

At the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of the University of Debrecen’s Clinical Centre, significant professional and technological developments have been implemented in recent years. The Szilvássy Judit Audiology Centre has begun operating, several modern minimally invasive procedures have been introduced, and the use of robot-assisted surgical systems has also been launched. Thanks to these innovations, patient care at the institution has reached a higher standard and improved level of safety.

With the second robot-assisted surgical system installed at the Clinical Centre, 21st-century cutting-edge technology will be used not only in general surgery, urology and gynaecology, but also in thoracic and ENT procedures in the future.

“The introduction of da Vinci Surgical System procedures represents a new opportunity in our field. This makes us one of only two centres in Hungary where this highly precise technique—offering improved surgical visibility—is available for ENT conditions. It is the most advanced tool for the surgical treatment of certain diseases of the oral cavity and pharynx. Initial experiences have been very positive; in several cases, the robot has helped identify tumours at the base of the tongue and in the tonsils that were not detectable even with imaging methods,” explained Balázs Sztanó, Associate Professor and Director of the clinic.

In recent years, the clinic’s surgical portfolio has expanded significantly, and nearly the full spectrum of head and neck oncological surgery is now available at the institution.

“In addition to radical, mutilating laryngectomy procedures, whenever possible we perform function-preserving partial laryngeal surgeries, which are extremely important for patients’ postoperative quality of life. We also carry out a large number of minimally invasive transoral laser tumour removal procedures. We have become one of the national centres for the treatment of upper airway stenosis, receiving patients from across the country. In dozens of cases, we have successfully removed tracheostomy tubes from patients who had previously undergone tracheotomy,” the clinic director added.

Significant progress has also been made in audiology. In December 2025, the Audiology Centre named after the institution’s former director, Judit Szilvássy, was inaugurated, offering comprehensive diagnostic services and the full range of hearing rehabilitation with implantable hearing devices.

The centre employs the most advanced technologies, which have already delivered clinical results.

“Using our objective testing methods, we have been able to precisely identify the location of functional damage underlying hearing loss in patients—primarily those with traumatic brain injuries—where this had previously not been clearly determined. As a result, we have been able to initiate targeted hearing rehabilitation in cases that were once considered untreatable. These interventions have significantly improved patients’ quality of life and given them the chance to regain the hearing necessary for communication, social interaction and daily life. We have also made major progress in the differential diagnosis of acute tinnitus: with our modern equipment, in some cases we can detect early-stage inner ear damage. Early diagnosis enables rapid and targeted treatment, which in several cases can even reverse the process,” emphasised Zsuzsanna Piros, professional coordinator of the Audiology Centre.

In addition to general audiology outpatient services, the country’s first state-funded tinnitus clinic outside Budapest has been launched at the new centre. It is developing dynamically and is seeing increasing patient numbers, now attracting patients from across the country.

The centre is also the first in Hungary to introduce the fNIRS system for medical use.

“fNIRS provides a new type of access to brain function—particularly in natural, real-life environments. It is a non-invasive brain imaging method that measures changes in blood flow and oxygenation in the cerebral cortex, thus providing insight into brain activity. The examination is completely painless and carries no risks or complications. Unlike most imaging techniques, patients do not need to lie inside a machine; they simply wear a special cap. During the test, they can speak, move, or even play the piano, allowing specialists to observe cortical activity in real time,” explained the coordinator.

Zsuzsanna Piros added that the system offers enormous potential for understanding hearing, speech perception and tinnitus, as well as for developing treatments and evaluating therapeutic outcomes.

Compared to MRI, a key advantage in hearing and tinnitus examinations is that the method is silent, unaffected by noise, and allows patients to listen to sounds or music during the test.

The Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery also organises multidisciplinary demonstration training sessions, enabling Hungarian specialists—including ENT doctors, neurologists, neurosurgeons, pharmacologists, and researchers in imaging—to learn about the new system. As a result, the integrative developments of recent years have brought significant progress not only in patient care, but also in university education and research.

Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Debrecen városa (Facebook)