Marking a significant milestone in Turkish medical history, a revolutionary surgical robot—the world’s first of its kind, developed entirely with domestic resources and TÜBİTAK support—has been used for the first time in Turkey at Liv Hospital. Our esteemed Urology Specialist, Prof. Dr. Volkan Tuğcu, and his team successfully performed procedures on two patients, heralding a new age of precision and safety in the treatment of kidney stones.

This advanced “Flexible Ureteroscopy Robot” is a testament to Turkish innovation and is already being utilized in leading medical centers across Europe and the Middle East. Now, we are proud to bring this world-class technology home to our patients.

A Definitive Solution for Complex Cases

The robot’s inaugural procedures at Liv Hospital provided immediate relief for two patients with challenging conditions. Abdullah Koyuncu, 75, had a large, 2-centimeter stone in his kidney that was completely fragmented in a single session.

The second patient, 39-year-old Serkan Kabadayı, who has a congenital anomaly, had undergone multiple stone surgeries previously without full success. The robotic system offered a definitive solution where previous methods fell short, demonstrating its effectiveness in complex and recurrent cases.

How This Technology Revolutionizes Patient Care

This platform is more than just a new tool; it’s a paradigm shift in how surgeons approach stone removal. Acting as a precise extension of the surgeon’s hands, the robot offers several key advantages:

• Unprecedented Safety with Real-Time Monitoring: The robot’s most critical feature is its ability to monitor pressure inside the kidney during the procedure. If the pressure rises to a level that could increase infection risk, the system immediately alerts the surgeon. This intelligent feedback loop is a major leap forward in patient safety.
• Enhanced Precision and Control: From a comfortable console, the surgeon can maneuver the flexible scope with 360-degree rotation, reaching and targeting stones with pinpoint accuracy using a laser. This level of control is difficult to achieve with conventional methods.
• Efficiency and Speed: The entire procedure is remarkably efficient, often completed in less than 45 minutes. This means less time under anesthesia and a smoother, faster experience for the patient.

This technology is especially beneficial for patients with large stones or those who have had recurrent issues because their stones were not completely cleared in past surgeries.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the new robotic system for kidney stones? It is the world’s first “Flexible Ureteroscopy Robot,” a high-precision surgical system developed in Turkey. It allows a urologist to remotely control a flexible scope and laser to break up stones inside the kidney, ureter, or urinary canal.

2. How is this robotic procedure different from traditional stone surgery? The key differences are the enhanced precision, 360-degree control, and, most importantly, the real-time pressure monitoring inside the kidney, which dramatically increases the safety of the procedure by minimizing infection risk.

3. What is the main safety advantage of this robot? Its ability to constantly measure the pressure within the kidney and alert the surgeon if it becomes too high. This feature, which is not available in standard procedures, helps prevent a common complication: post-operative infection.

4. Who is a good candidate for this procedure? This procedure is ideal for patients with large kidney stones (2cm or more), those with stones in hard-to-reach locations, or individuals who have experienced recurrent stones due to incomplete removal from previous surgeries.

5. How long does the robotic surgery take? The procedure is highly efficient, typically completed in under 45 minutes, which contributes to a better patient experience.

6. Was this robot developed in Turkey? Yes, it is a point of national pride. The robot was developed completely with domestic engineering and the support of TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey).

7. Who performed the first procedures in Turkey with this robot? The first procedures in Turkey were successfully performed by Prof. Dr. Volkan Tuğcu and his expert team at Liv Hospital, marking our commitment to pioneering the latest and safest medical technologies.