In the United States, surgeons have successfully performed the first fully robotic double lung transplant, on a patient who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- American surgeons have successfully performed the first fully robotic double lung transplant on a 57-year-old patient who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- The incisions made using the Da Vinci XI robot were only 5 centimeters instead of 20.
- This robotic technique helps reduce chest wall trauma, post-operative pain and improve healing.
This is a world first: in the United States, surgeons from NYU Langone Health Center in Manhattan have achieved a double lung transplant entirely robotic. Cheryl Mehrkar, a 57-year-old patient, suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is a serious pathology, responsible for 3.5 million deaths, or around 5% globally in 2021, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
First double lung transplant robotic: “I trusted him completely”
Cheryl Mehrkar, was diagnosed with COPD, lung disease that reduces respiratory capacity, for over ten years. When she was infected with Covid-19, her condition deteriorated significantly. Thus, the American was included on the list of people awaiting a lung transplant.
“Look, we’d like to do this with a robot and with both lungs, explained the surgeon from NYU Langone Health Center in Manhattan, according to the patient’s words, reported by American media People. We’ve never done this before. You would be the first in the world”. Faced with this proposal, the fifty-year-old did not hesitate: “I trusted him completely.”. QA few days after his agreement and registration on the list, a donor was found to be compatible.
During the procedure, the surgeons used the Da Vinci XI robot, having already shown its effectiveness for simple lung transplants. On the other hand, he had never been tested for a double transplant.
“In a normal transplant, either a very large incision is made on both sides of the chest, called a thoracotomy, or a very large transverse incision in the chest, where the sternum is broken.details Dr. Stephanie H. Chang, one of the surgeons, at Reuters. In both cases, large retractors must be inserted which spread the ribs and put pressure on the nerves.”
Less pain after robotic double lung transplantation
During this robotic intervention, the incisions made using Da Vinci XI were only 5 centimeters instead of 20. “Small incisions were made between the ribs, then the robotic system was used to remove the lung, prepare the surgical site for implantation, and implant the new lung”, can we read in the press release from NYU Langone Health. This technique therefore makes it possible to reduce trauma to the chest wall, post-operative pain and improve the chances of recovery.
The surgical operation took place on October 22. Cheryl Mehrkar spoke to the press about the different emotions felt during this adventure. “I was very excited about being the first in the world, but I was also certain that it couldn’t work. But when I woke up and they said, Cheryl, we did it, my only reaction was, Oh my God! Today she is no longer hospitalized and benefits from her new respiratory capacity: she can walk without difficulty and without assistance.
