Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 11: A 45-year-old kidney failure patient has become the first in India to receive a robotic renal transplant at a government hospital, performed by surgeons at AIIMS, Delhi.

The procedure was carried out using the Da Vinci Xi surgical system, a robotic platform that enables minimally invasive surgery with enhanced precision, dexterity, and 3D visualization. According to Dr Virendra Bansal, chief transplant surgeon, the technology allows for smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, less pain, faster recovery, and fewer complications.

The patient, on dialysis for six months, was evaluated for transplantation at AIIMS’ Nephrology Department, and a suitable donor was identified. The surgery, conducted on September 3, lasted around four hours under general anaesthesia.

Dr Bansal explained that the donated kidney was inserted through a 4-5 cm incision in the pelvis, with blood vessels and ureter connected using the robotic system. The patient showed immediate urine output, and creatinine levels dropped to 1.2. He was discharged after 10 days.

Since this landmark surgery, four more patients have undergone robotic kidney transplants at AIIMS. The Da Vinci Xi system was recently launched at the institute to provide advanced, minimally invasive surgical care and address complex procedures.

Dr Bansal highlighted that robotic-assisted surgery represents a major step forward in public healthcare, while Dr Krishna Asuri emphasised its significance amid the growing cases of end-stage kidney disease in India.