Southampton first in UK to use robot for children’s kidney surgery
University Hospital Southampton has become the first NHS site to use a pioneering robotic platform for children’s kidney surgery.
Surgeons say it is “one of the most exciting developments” in paediatric urology.
The technology in the landmark trial is the Versius Surgical Robotic System. Results will guide surgeons’ decisions around when and how to use the robot.
It could increase the use of robotics in paediatric surgery in the future.
Surgeons at Southampton Children’s Hospital (SCH) are leading the trial. It is running at three sites across the UK and will recruit a total of 150 patients.
Cutting-edge technology
The system has an innovative 720-degree range of motion. This means the surgical instruments are small enough to perform complex operations on paediatric patients.
It is hoped the technology will replicate its success in adult surgery. It has been linked with faster recovery times, less post-operative pain and less time in hospital.
The first patient to benefit from the development is seven-year-old Reece Wilton from Gosport.
Reece was diagnosed with pelviureteric junction obstruction in May 2023. This refers to a blockage or obstruction of urine flow from the kidney into the ureter. It can lead to loss of kidney function if left untreated.
The condition affects between one in 1000 and one in 1500 children.
Reece’s mum, Elizabeth, said: “Reece was nervous about his operation before, but we showed him pictures and he was quite excited to know a robot was operating on him.
“We have complete faith in the team at Southampton Children’s Hospital. We are incredibly happy that Reece is benefitting from this pioneering trial.”
‘Three years in the making’
The robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty procedure was performed by Ewan Brownlee. He is a consultant paediatric urologist at UHS and the lead for this trial.
The surgery involved repairing the narrowing at the junction of the kidney, pelvis and ureter.
Mr Brownlee said: “This has been three years in the making. It’s really exciting that the first operation has finally taken place.
“The evidence for use of robotics in surgery shows clear benefits for patients, from quicker healing time and smaller scars to, in some cases, better overall outcomes.
“I’m hoping that this is the start of seeing an increase in minimally invasive surgery for children all around the UK.”
Stephen Griffin is a consultant paediatric urologist at UHS who assisted during the operation. He said:
“Ewan and our UHS research team have put in a lot of effort to get us to this stage. Personally, I think this will be one of the most exciting developments within the field of paediatric urology over the next 10 years.”
Pioneering research
The robot was created by UK company CMR Surgical. It uses a unique ‘wrist rotation’ for easy manipulation of the tip of the instrument. This allows the instruments to be smaller than otherwise commercially available, minimising the size of incision required.
Paul Grundy, Chief Medical Officer at UHS, said: “I am absolutely delighted we have been able to further expand our robotics programme.
“We have long been one of the leading hospital trusts in the UK in this area. Along with our world-class surgeons, we have been able to improve patient outcomes and equity of access to pioneering innovations, such as Versius, for some time - and will continue to do so.
“Our paediatric patients will now also benefit which is hugely exciting. We are proud to be at the heart of the research that will hopefully lay the foundations for others in the near future.”
Mark Slack, Co-Founder of CMR Surgical, added:
“We are delighted to begin the world’s first paediatric trial using Versius in the UK.
“We are committed to the responsible introduction of Versius across new specialties and we look forward to working with our partners as we undertake this clinical trial to ensure the safety and efficacy of Versius in paediatrics.”