Surgeons Use New High-Definition Robot During Living-Donor Kidney Transplant

Many thousands of people are waiting for life-saving kidney transplants and the authors believe that this advancement will encourage people to be more willing to donate kidneys and thus expand the potential pool of organ donors.

"For the donor patient, a robot-assisted procedure can offer all the benefits of a minimally-invasive procedure, including less pain, less blood loss and less need for blood transfusions. Patients have a shorter hospital stay, a quicker recovery and faster return to normal activities."

(Chicago) – August 15, 2007 - Surgeons at Rush University Medical Center are performing living-donor kidney transplants using a new high-definition robotic surgery system that offers improved precision, shorter recovery and smaller incisions for the donor patient.

Utilizing the new high-definition da Vinci S Surgical System, the surgeon sits in a console a few feet from the patient and views the surgical site through a high-definition three dimensional viewer. The laparoscopic camera and robotic arms are inserted into the patient though four half-inch incisions. The surgeon uses hand controls and foot pedals to manipulate the robotic arms in the mechanically-assisted surgery. The fully intact kidney is removed through a small three inch bikini line incision. Read the full News Release.