SickKids and UHN partnership advances robot-assisted surgery for adolescent patients
Summary:
The expertise of both teams is leading to safer, quicker operations and improved recoveries for patients undergoing an organ-saving urology procedure.
The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and University Health Network (UHN) have partnered to relaunch a robotic surgery program, advancing urologic care for adolescent patients.
The expertise of both teams is leading to safer, quicker operations and improved recoveries for patients undergoing pyeloplasty. The minimally invasive surgery involves unblocking one or both ureters to allow urine to drain to the bladder instead of staying in the kidney, where it can cause damage.
Pyeloplasty is typically performed via minimally invasive laparoscopy, using a tube with a camera, a surgery that can take four to five hours. With the robot assisting to remove the narrowing of the ureter and suturing after, the surgery can take two hours or less. It’s also safer because the team can see a more detailed three-dimensional perspective, and patients can have a quicker recovery time because the incisions are smaller.
“This is a great step forward to provide improved care,” says Dr. Armando Lorenzo, Head of SickKids’ Division of Urology. “It’s a good combination of better patient care, using technology appropriately and taking advantage of our partnerships with the hospitals around us.”
A leader in robotic surgery, UHN has been advancing minimally invasive approaches that enhance precision, reduce recovery time and expand access to innovative surgical care.
“This partnership reflects what’s possible when we bring together complementary expertise across institutions,” says Dr. Sami Chadi, Robotic Surgery Program Lead at UHN’s Sprott Department of Surgery. “By combining advanced robotics with specialized paediatric care, we’re expanding access to minimally invasive options for adolescents across Ontario and Canada.”
As SickKids looks to grow its robotics capabilities, the Urology team saw the opportunity to partner with the team at UHN. Through this partnership, the SickKids team selects patients that are most likely to benefit from this type of surgery, based on their age and other factors, exemplifying the organization’s commitment to individualized care through the Precision Child Health movement.
“This relaunch reflects the power of cross-institutional collaboration, thoughtful planning and multidisciplinary teamwork,” says Dr. Michael Chua, SickKids Urology Program Director and the hospital’s clinical lead on the relaunch. “As the partnership between SickKids Urology and UHN moves forward, it sets the stage for continued innovation in robotic surgery, education and patient-centered care.”
The collaboration also lays the foundation for a more integrated and sustainable model for pediatric robotic surgery.
“This is an important step in building a collaborative approach for paediatric robotic surgery,” says Alexandra Boasie, Director of Transformation and Quality at UHN’s Sprott Department of Surgery. “We’re proud to work alongside SickKids to advance innovation and deliver high-quality, patient-centred care for adolescents and their families.”
Each surgeon has to be specially trained on the robot, meaning the partnership has become a collaborative learning model. Chua and Urology Senior Fellows Drs. Julie Wong and Fabio Botelho are part of the team performing the procedure and operating the robot alongside clinical staff from Toronto General Hospital. Patients receive post-operative care at SickKids
“The partnership isn’t just a matter of having equipment. It’s having a whole team that works together to use the robot effectively, from surgeons to nurses and anesthesiologists,” says Dr. Abhaya Kulkarni, SickKids’ Surgeon-in-Chief.