UZ Gent pioneers robotic kidney autotransplant

Kidney autotransplantation is a type of surgery that helps patients manage acute, long-term kidney pain. During the procedure, the kidney that is causing pain is removed, treated and implanted in a slightly different place in the body, in the pelvis.

Robotic surgery is a method where surgeons control a robotic arm from a computer. According to surgeons, the process allows much more precision in the procedure and reduces a patient’s recovery time significantly.

“Normally, such an operation would involve an incision of up to 30 centimetres,” said Dr Karel Decaestecker of UZ Gent. “By using the robot, only five keyhole incisions of less than one centimetre each are necessary, plus another of about six centimetres to replace the kidney.”

Worldwide, the procedure has only been carried out a few times. The UZ Gent team has now performed three kidney autotransplants in quick succession.

All the procedures went smoothly, and the patients are doing well, according to the hospital. The patients can return home after just six days rather than the four to six weeks normally required.

Photo courtesy UZ Gent