Urology and gynaecology patients in Leeds gain access to latest da Vinci Xi robotic surgery at Spire Leeds Hospital

• First da Vinci Xi robotic system in private healthcare across Yorkshire and the North East now available at Spire Leeds Hospital.

Urology and gynaecology patients in the Leeds area can now access the latest generation robotic assisted surgery, which is more precise, minimally invasive and can shorten recovery times. 

Spire Leeds Hospital, in Roundhay, has installed the first da Vinci Xi to be used in private healthcare in Yorkshire and the North East and adds to the impressive range of robotic technology available to patients at the hospital. 

The da Vinci Xi system allows for greater dexterity and accuracy in confined anatomical spaces, which is common in urological and gynaecological procedures. It uses 3D high-definition visualisation and wristed instruments that mimic the natural movement of the surgeon’s hand but with greater range of movement than possible with human hands and wrists.

With personalised surgical plans for each patient, high-definition visualisations and smaller incisions, patients who have been operated on with the da Vinci system may be less likely to experience complications during the procedure and more likely to experience lower pain levels during recovery. This can lead to better outcomes and quicker recovery. More than 12 million procedures have been performed with da Vinci surgical systems on patients worldwide.

Spire Leeds Hospital theatre team with the da Vinci Xi system 

Mr James Tibbot, Consultant Gynaecologist at Spire Leeds Hospital, said: “The introduction of robotic surgery to Spire Leeds is an extremely exciting development for women’s healthcare in the private sector. I’ve been using robotic surgery for two years now and have seen the benefits first hand. Patients are having more complex surgery and recovering faster with less pain and post-operative complications.”

Mr Georgios Theophilou, Consultant Gynaecological Oncology Surgeon at Spire Leeds Hospital, said: "It is with excitement and anticipation that we welcome the establishment of the Robotic Service in gynaecology at Spire Leeds hospital.

My experience using the technology since 2018 has confirmed its benefits to patients. Compared with open surgery, patients experience less blood loss, reduced postoperative pain, and shorter hospital stays. Even when compared with conventional laparoscopy, robotic surgery offers advantages in technically challenging cases, including those involving severe endometriosis, previous abdominal surgery, or higher body mass index. It is also widely used in the treatment of cancers of the uterus, cervix, and ovary, particularly in early-stage disease. Recovery is faster, allowing women to return to their normal daily activities more quickly. " 

Mr Grigorios Kyriazis, Consultant Urologist at Spire Leeds Hospital, said: “As a robotic urological surgeon, I have carried out more than 300 robotic operations, including treatment for kidney cancer and complex ureteric reconstruction. The arrival of the da Vinci system at Leeds is a major step forward, as it will allow more patients to benefit from precise, minimally invasive surgery. This can mean less pain, a shorter stay in hospital and a faster recovery, which is what matters most to patients and their families.” 

The da Vinci robotic system is used across a range of general surgery, gynaecology and urological procedures including prostatectomies (removal of part or all of the prostate gland), partial cystectomies (removal of part of the bladder), pyeloplasties (removal of a blockage or narrowing of your ureteropelvic junction), nephrectomies (removal of part or all of a kidney) and gynecology for precise, complex procedures like hysterectomies, myomectomies (fibroid removal), and endometriosis resections.