PRAGUE, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Doctors from Prague's Na Homolce hospital have successfully performed the country's first robotics-assisted heart surgery on six patients, the hospital announced on Thursday.

    Surgeons removed bypass apparatus from two patients with the use of the Vinci robotic system and implanted pacemakers in another two patients, hospital spokeswoman Jitka Kalouskova told local media.

    In the case of one patient, the robot only examined the chest cavity and doctors then performed a traditional open-heart operation, while another patient was fully operated on by the robotic system.

    Stepan Cerny, head doctor of the cardiovascular division of the Na Homolce hospital, said he is convinced that within three years, one-third of surgeries could be performed entirely by robots, or at least with their assistance.

    "This new technology facilitates some types of surgery and enables some new treatments. It is also less invasive to patients," Cerny said.

    One of the patients, Jiri Tiser, 71, said he had never heard about operations carried out by robots, but said he did not fear them.

    "I trust both these modern technologies and doctors," he said.