Spain expands robotic surgery with first pediatric single‑port operation and growing Da Vinci use

Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona performed Europe’s first pediatric surgery using a single‑port robotic system. The 12‑year‑old patient underwent a ureteronephrectomy with the SHURUI Single Port robot, a Chinese‑made device that operates through a single incision, offering reduced pain and faster recovery. The system, approved by the EU, is expected to enable 200‑300 advanced procedures annually.

In Galicia, data from the regional health service show a rapid increase in robot‑assisted surgeries using Da Vinci systems. In 2025 the area served by the Vigo University Hospital (Chuvi) logged 593 robotic procedures, while other Galician hospitals performed 571 (Pontevedra), 552 (Ferrol), 531 (A Coruña), 496 (Santiago), 452 (Ourense) and 449 (Lugo). Access disparities were noted for patients affiliated with the private insurer Povisa, who faced a much lower rate of robotic surgeries compared with the general population.

Both developments illustrate the expanding role of robotic technology in Spanish surgical practice, from pioneering pediatric procedures to broader regional adoption.