VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center, the only center in the US offering robotic hepatectomies, has successfully performed a less invasive robotic liver procurement procedure. This innovative surgical procedure is expected to expand the pool of eligible donors and improve outcomes for both donors and recipients. Robotic surgery is less invasive, resulting in quicker recovery, less pain, and less scarring for the donor. The surgery also eliminates the need for a significant abdominal incision, making the healing process easier for donors. The robotic system’s enhanced precision allows surgeons to adapt to complex anatomical conditions that previously made individuals ineligible as donors.
This surgical advancement is significant due to the shortage of organs for every patient in need of a liver transplant. Expanding the criteria for donors can potentially increase the number of matches. VCU Health has been performing robotic surgeries since 2014 and has established a minimally invasive surgery division. Medical centers in 25 states, including Virginia, perform living donor liver transplants. The success of these robotic liver procurement procedures shows promise in improving the liver transplant process and outcomes for patients.
