King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has become the first in the UK to use robotic assisted surgery to treat patients with kidney stones.

The trial has so far treated 20 patients with a a minimally invasive technique that reduces the risk of infection and has shorter recovery times.

The procedure is performed using a robotic navigation system that allows a urologist to control the camera, laser, and stone-grasping instruments. As a result, kidney stones are completely removed without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.

King's treats over 300 patients with kidney stones every year.

Mr Sanjith Gnanappiragasam, Consultant Endo Urologist at King’s, said: “While robotic-assisted surgery has been used in the NHS over the past 20 years, this is the first time the technology has been used to treat kidney stones.

“Until now, kidney stone surgery for larger stones involved a longer hospital stay of between two and four days, and a long period of rest and recuperation. As a result of this new robotic procedure, patients can have their treatment and return home to recover on the same day.

“We know that people can recover better at home in the comfort of a familiar environment, and offering the option of a day case procedure will help reduce waiting lists for treatment. We are extremely proud to be part of the first UK team to trial this service.”

Diahann Walkes, who underwent robotic assisted surgery to remove at kidney stone at King’s, said: “I was not sure what to expect when I discovered a robot was going to help remove my kidney stones, but everything went really smoothly, and I was able to go back home to recover just days after the surgery.”