A seven-year-old boy has become the first child in London to successfully undergo an operation using a “revolutionary” surgical robotic system as part of a trial.
Rufus Quinn, from south London, had complex surgery to correct a blockage at the ureteropelvic junction, the space between the kidney and the tube that drains urine into the bladder.
This type of blockage impacts approximately 1 in 1,500 children and can be painful and lead to increased risk of infection if not treated.
The operation, called a robotic assisted pyeloplasty, was performed using the Versius Surgical Robotic System.
It uses flexible modular arms designed to mimic human joints that allow surgeons to carry out minimally invasive operations with increased precision.
One arm controls a 3D camera that allows the surgeon to see inside the patient.
The technology allows patients to have a shorter and less painful recovery period after surgery.
Rufus received his operation at the Evelina hospital in central London, where consultant paediatric urologist Pankaj Mishra controlled the Versius system through an open console with a screen.
The boy’s mother, Jenny Quinn, said: “Although Rufus was initially nervous about the surgery, he was mainly very excited. He wants to be a scientist when he grows up and he liked the idea of his surgeon using a futuristic robot to carry out his operation.”
Versius can also make complex operations less physically demanding for surgeons, reducing the strain on surgical teams and increasing the number of complex surgeries that can be carried out each day.
Mr Mishra said: “This robotic system has the potential to revolutionise the way we carry out complex surgeries in children. This type of system is much less tiring for the surgeon involved, which means that difficult surgeries can become a lot easier.”
Dr Lance Tooke, Clinical Director for Children's Surgery, Theatres and Anaesthesia at Evelina London said: “Guy’s and St Thomas’ is the largest robotic programme in the UK and we, at Evelina London, are proud to be part of this programme.
“We are delighted to participate in this initial trial and hope this will open up new possibilities for using robotic systems in paediatric surgery.”
