In a groundbreaking medical achievement, the world’s first completely robotic double-lung transplant was successfully performed on a 57-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The surgery took place in October at NYU Langone Health in New York City and was led by Dr. Stephanie Chang. This follows another milestone by Dr. Chang, who performed the first robotic single-lung transplant in the United States just a month earlier, showcasing her leadership in advancing minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Described as a “watershed moment” in lung transplantation, the procedure heralds a new era in patient care, according to Dr. Ralph Mosca, chair of cardiothoracic surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Using the da Vinci Xi surgical robot, the medical team made small incisions between the ribs to remove the damaged lungs and replace them with healthy donor lungs, significantly reducing the invasiveness of traditional methods.
The recipient, Cheryl Mehrkar, underwent the operation just four days after being added to the transplant list, following a thorough evaluation. The transplant was performed on October 22, offering Mehrkar a new lease on life. “For a long time, I was told I wasn’t sick enough for a transplant,” she shared in an NYU news release. Expressing deep gratitude, Mehrkar thanked the donor and their family, as well as the dedicated medical team, for giving her hope and another chance at life.
The innovative use of robotics in lung transplantation holds immense promise for improving patient outcomes, reducing recovery times, and minimizing complications. By leveraging advanced technology, this breakthrough is expected to pave the way for wider adoption of robotic techniques in organ transplantation worldwide.
This transformative approach underscores the potential of medical robotics in overcoming the challenges of complex surgeries and enhancing the quality of care for patients with severe conditions.
