Parents of a four‐month‐old baby boy, the youngest ever to undergo robot-assisted surgery, have expressed their amazement after initial fears that treatment might be unachievable. The infant, Mohammed, was treated at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for a kidney-related condition as part of a clinical trial testing robotic surgical technology that replicates the flexibility of human joints. Mariam, Mohammed’s mother, admitted she was worried that her son’s small size might preclude him from receiving the necessary treatment. However, she described the innovative procedure as “revolutionary care” that ultimately led to a successful outcome. Consultant surgeon David Keene noted that the precision delivered by the robotic system was a significant advancement, impressing the entire medical team. Mohammed’s surgery was conducted using the Versius Surgical System, a state-of-the-art technology developed by British firm CMR Surgical. This system features compact, modular robotic arms that allow surgeons to perform operations with enhanced accuracy while minimizing invasiveness.
In Mohammed’s case, the procedure focused on repairing a tube that connects his bladder to his kidneys—a critical intervention to prevent potentially severe infections. “We were uncertain if he could safely undergo the surgery at just four months old,” said Mariam. “It was a huge relief to learn that the advanced robotic system enabled doctors to perform the operation without delay.” Remarkably, Mohammed was discharged only three days after the procedure and is reported to be doing very well. The introduction of this technology has also increased surgical capacity at the hospital, part of the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, allowing for two procedures per day compared to the previous one. Mr. Keene emphasized that the latest generation of surgical robots is particularly effective for pediatric reconstructive operations. Since August 2024, approximately 25 robotic urology procedures have been performed at the hospital as part of this clinical trial. for 7 seconds
Parents of a four‐month‐old baby boy, the youngest ever to undergo robot-assisted surgery, have expressed their amazement after initial fears that treatment might be unachievable.
The infant, Mohammed, was treated at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital for a kidney condition as part of a clinical trial exploring robotic surgical technology that mimics the dexterity of human joints.
Mariam, Mohammed’s mother, admitted she was worried her son’s small size might make surgery impossible. However, she described the procedure as “revolutionary care” that ultimately led to a successful outcome.
Consultant surgeon David Keene noted that the precision offered by the new robotic system significantly enhanced the operation, impressing the entire medical team. Mohammed’s surgery was performed using the Versius Surgical System, developed by British firm CMR Surgical. This technology features compact, modular robotic arms controlled by surgeons, allowing for more precise movements and faster recovery times by minimizing invasiveness.
In Mohammed’s case, the procedure involved repairing a tube that connects his bladder to his kidneys—a critical intervention to prevent severe infections. “We were uncertain if he could safely undergo the surgery at just four months old,” explained Mariam. “It was a huge relief to learn that the advanced robotic system enabled doctors to perform the operation without delay.” Remarkably, Mohammed was discharged only three days after the procedure and is reported to be doing very well.
The introduction of this technology has also increased the hospital’s surgical capacity, allowing for two procedures per day compared to the previous one. Mr. Keene emphasized that the latest generation of surgical robots is particularly effective for pediatric reconstructive operations.
Since August 2024, approximately 25 robotic urology procedures have been carried out at the hospital as part of this clinical trial.
