VCU Presents Cutting-Edge Robotic Surgery for Living Liver Donors

The Health Hume-Lee Transplant Centre at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has announced that it is the first hospital in the world to use robotic surgery to improve the recuperation process for living organ donors.

This robotic surgical method is a major breakthrough that sets a new standard for safety, precision, and care for living donors, according to VCU Health. The first liver retrieval from a living donor was performed with the use of the sophisticated da Vinci 5 equipment.

“Living organ donors are the true heroes. It is of the utmost importance that we take every step to make their experience as comfortable as possible. With this robot, we can achieve that goal and save more lives,” explained Dr. David Bruno, director of Hume-Lee Transplant Center.

The da Vinci 5 is described as a tool that helps surgeons make fewer incisions and recuperate more quickly, which reduces discomfort and improves outcomes for living donors.

“The da Vinci 5 is truly the future of living donor surgery. Its advanced technology allows us to perform complex procedures with less impact on the donor. With this robot, we’ll see faster recoveries, minimal scarring, and an overall improved experience for our donors,” explained Dr. Seung Duk Lee, associate surgical director of living liver donor transplant.