US surgery: Robot assists in dual kidney transplant in Ohio

The demand for donors of vital organs makes double kidney transplants through robot assisted method a potential milestone in the health sector.

Cleveland Clinic has witnessed and performed the United States' first-ever robot-assisted surgery during a dual kidney transplant.

This innovative move entails a minimally invasive robotic surgical device being used to perform a bilateral kidney transplant on Ohio resident, Joanne Kukula.

The procedure went well and Joanne made a full recovery, according to the researchers.

Joanne's surgery was special, according to Cleveland Clinic, because the doctors implanted two kidneys from a single deceased donor using robotic surgery.

This serves as an innovative way to extend the use of marginally effective kidneys from a list of donors who would not have otherwise been eligible due to expanded criteria.

The demand for donors of vital organs has made double kidney transplants possible by expanding the pool of potential donors.

The method also reduces the amount of time a person must wait to obtain an organ.

For Joanne's surgery, Dr. Mohamed Eltemamy, employed the use of a sophisticated multiport robot.

He affirmed the robot-assisted procedure as compared to traditional surgery is more versatile.

The doctor stated that additional benefits of the robot include greater ergonomics, the capacity to operate in confined places, the ability to use enlarged 3DHD vision, and articulation at the tips of the instruments that surpass the range of motion of a human wrist.

Every year, the Kidney Transplant Programme at Cleveland Clinic performs more than 300 transplants by urologic surgeons.

Remarkably, about 10 per cent of these transplants are done with robotic assistance. As technology becomes more accessible, that number keeps rising.

According to Dr. Wee, "Robot-guided surgery is usually carried out through a single tiny incision. Compared to standard procedures, this minimally invasive approach usually causes less discomfort and speeds up the healing process for patients."

Robotic Surgeries in the World

While the US just saw its first-ever robot-assisted dual kidney transplant, other hospitals in the world have already utilised robotics in healthcare in a variety of medical procedures.

After 400 robotic heart surgeries, the hospital's robotic cardiac surgery programme boasts a 98% survival rate.