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In October of this year, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota performed their first robot-assisted kidney transplant. The patient was a woman who received a living donor kidney transplant from her daughter.
WHY
You may wonder, why would doctors want to use a robot to assist in transplant surgery? And why would a patient want this? Dr. Patrick Dean, Surgical Director of the Kidney Transplant Program in Minnesota tells us why. “A robotic-assisted kidney transplant requires a smaller incision. It lowers the risk that patients will experience complications, such as an infection or hernia. Patients may also have less discomfort and a speedier recovery, potentially meaning less time in the hospital after surgery."
WHO
Not everyone listed for transplant at Mayo Clinic will receive a robotic kidney transplant. Patients selected for this procedure are patients who may have a higher body mass index, have previous hernias, or have prior abdominal surgery. The assistance of the robotic equipment allows surgeons to utilize alternate incision sites for these groups of patients. For most patients, the traditional kidney surgery method remains the best option. It is safe and successful.
HOW
When you come to Mayo Clinic for your kidney transplant evaluation, discuss the robotic procedure with your doctors. They will let you know if you are a candidate for this procedure and provide you with all the details necessary to make the right decision for you. If you are a candidate for transplant at another hospital, check with your team to see if they offer this as an option for you.
Have you had a kidney transplant? Would you have considered robotic surgery if this option was given to you?
HELPFUL LINKS
- Learn More About Robotic Kidney Transplant
- Explore Mayo’s Transplant Center.
- Request an appointment.
- Connect with others in the transplant discussion group on Mayo Clinic Connect
- View our transplant toolkits on Mayo Clinic Connect
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I am the patient who had this robotic surgery. The recovery was amazing. No pain after surgery and was up and around as soon as the anesthesia wore off. I would highly recommend this.
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3 Reactions@pjpanning, Congratulations on your successful kidney transplant! I am thrilled that you reached out and shared your important role in this history making event in the world of Transplants at Mayo Clinic. It is because of people like you, who bravely accept new medical technology, that more and more lives can be saved.
How did you come to be offered this robotic assisted kidney transplant? Was the decision to accept a medical 1st an easy or a difficult decision for you?
The surgeon called about a month before my scheduled surgery and asked if I would do this. It was a pretty easy decision for me to say yes because he said it would be smaller incisions so less pain and quicker recovery. He also said if there were any problems during the surgery, they would stop with the robot and just do it the other way.
My incision is about a 2 inch vertical incision next to my belly button, so there were no muscles cut which is why I think the recovery was so easy.
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1 ReactionThat's is great & Congratulations - just curious was the Kidney from a live donor... good luck & keep well.
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