Robotic Assisted Kidney Transplant – Benefits and Risk Factors

Health experts recommend kidney transplants to only those in the last stage of their renal disease. A kidney transplant is a very complex procedure; doctors cannot perform it on everyone with a diseased kidney.
With innovations in technology and medical science, surgeons perform kidney transplants with robotic assistants. These minimally invasive technologies have more advantages than traditional surgery. Robotic-assisted kidney transplant is a better way to achieve the surgery as it makes it easier for the surgeon to perform the surgery, and the patient can go through the entire process with less pain and suffering.

What is a kidney transplant? 

A kidney transplant is when physicians put healthy kidneys inside the patient’s body. The kidneys must match the patient’s body requirements. The patient may get the healthy kidneys from a living donor (mostly family or friends) who has two healthy kidneys and is willing to donate one. Or from a dead person who might have also signed to donate his kidneys after his death.
In kidney transplants, the doctors do not cure the diseased kidneys but replace them with healthy ones so that the body may function how it should and the person can live a normal life.

Who needs a kidney transplant? 

Not everyone who has a kidney disease gets a kidney transplant. Your healthcare professional will only recommend a kidney transplant if you are at the last stage of your renal disease. There are two options at this stage- either dialysis or kidney transplant. But dialysis does not let the person be as free and live a normal life as you can in a kidney transplant.
Kidney transplants may be done for people of all age groups, whether children, adolescents, adults, or the elderly. In addition, people with other diseases like diabetes may also get a kidney transplant; you have to evaluate the entire process and situation with your healthcare expert.

What happens in a robotic-assisted kidney transplant? 

The process is similar to the traditional method- the healthy kidneys are transplanted into the body. But the technique is different in robotic-assisted transplant surgery.
Unlike the open surgery method, the surgeon uses robotic hands, which provide more dexterity than human hands. The doctors perform the surgery through these hands using their skills and knowledge.
The incisions are smaller, about 7 cm, in this technique. Through this incision, the surgeon removes the unhealthy kidneys and places the healthy kidney inside the body. Other incisions are 1 cm long to insert other tools in the patient’s body. Again, the 3-D camera gives a better view to the surgeon, and he manipulates the robotic hand, mimics his movements, and performs the surgery.

What are the benefits of robotic-assisted kidney transplants? 

• It is better for people who are obese and mostly cannot go through traditional kidney transplants.
• The complications are less as it uses a robotic hand, so there are no chances of the surgeon’s hand trembling.
• The patient’s recovery is faster and minimally invasive, and the hospital stays are also shorter.
• The surgical scars are quite small and less visible.
• There is a lot of blood loss in open kidney transplant surgery, but the blood loss is reduced in the new method.
• The doctor can get a better view with the 3-D camera, which is better for the patient’s treatment.
• The postoperative pain is much lesser in the robotic-assisted kidney transplant.
• Traditional kidney transplants and laparoscopic transplants do not have such techniques and technology as in this robotic method.

Are there any risk factors in robotic-assisted kidney transplants? 

Even though more risks come with traditional kidney transplants, there are still some risks that come with robotic-assisted kidney transplants as well- 

• The surgeons fill the abdomen with carbon dioxide to get a clear picture. There are chances that this carbon dioxide gets trapped in your abdomen region.
• Nerve compression is another risk factor for minimally invasive transplants.
• The encircling areas may get damaged in the process.
• You may develop a port-size hernia due to the small cuts made for inserting the tools.
• You may experience problems related to your bowel.

Kidney transplant is itself a major process. And robotic-assisted kidney transplant is a contemporary way of a kidney transplant. Therefore, you must get your transplant done from a hospital with skilled and experienced doctors in kidney transplants. Moreover, the surgeon and his team should be well-practiced in using robotic tools.

At the Asian hospital, Faridabad, the surgeons, and their respective teams are experts in conducting kidney transplant surgery. They have had their special training in working with robotic assistants. Moreover, the hospital has all the facilities like a pharmacy, ICU, operation theatre, etc. So, if you are looking for the best hospital for a robotic-assisted kidney transplant, you must contact the Asian hospital Faridabad for consultation and surgery.