Israeli Hospital Pioneers Robotic Laser System for Kidney Stone Removal

Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem has become the first hospital in Israel to utilize the ILY robotic system for kidney stone removal. This advanced technology, developed by the French company STERLAB, positions Israel among approximately eleven countries worldwide with access to this innovation. The ILY system allows surgeons to precisely control a ureteroscope remotely via a wireless controller, enabling accurate and stable laser application directly onto kidney stones.

Dr. Ilan Kafka, director of the hospital's endourology department, successfully performed the initial surgeries using the robot. The procedure duration varies from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the stone's size and location. The robot functions as a tool to assist surgeons, targeting stones up to two to three centimeters without damaging surrounding tissues.

This robotic approach offers several benefits, including reduced physical strain and radiation exposure for the surgeon due to remote operation. It also minimizes the need for surgical incisions, leading to faster patient recovery, with most patients staying only one night in the hospital. The success rate for these procedures is reported to be as high as 85%.

Professor Boris Zeltser, head of the hospital's urology department, stated that the integration of the ILY system underscores the medical center's leading role in urological innovation.