Five-year-old girl undergoes robotic surgery with new machine at Leeds hospital
The new robotic surgery machine is now being rolled out
A five-year-old girl has undergone robotic surgery at a Leeds hospital after suffering repeated urinary tract infections.
The child was treated at Spire Leeds Hospital by consultant paediatric urologist Ramnath Subramaniam.
Investigations found she had vesicoureteric reflux, a condition which causes urine to flow backwards from the bladder towards the kidneys.
The condition can increase the risk of repeated infections and, in some cases, lead to kidney damage.
The girl underwent robotic bilateral ureteric reimplantation, an operation to repair the connection between the bladder and kidneys and prevent urine flowing backwards.
The procedure was carried out using the hospital's da Vinci robotic surgical system.
Robotic surgery involves a surgeon controlling instruments through small incisions. It can offer benefits including smaller scars and a shorter recovery, although these vary between patients.
The family chose private treatment to access surgery sooner. The procedure is also available at some NHS hospitals.
Mr Subramaniam said: "Achieving this milestone in private healthcare at Spire Leeds Hospital is an honour for myself and our surgical team.
"By performing robotic bilateral ureteric reimplantation, we have successfully corrected the patient's vesicoureteric reflux and safeguarded them against further reflux-related renal damage.
"This breakthrough underscores our commitment to pioneering the future of paediatric surgery, combining advanced technology with unmatched precision to transform outcomes for children."
The hospital said the operation was an example of the use of robotic-assisted surgery in treating children with urinary conditions.