Surgeons at Cleveland Clinic successfully completed the health system’s first robotic lung transplant in the US.
It marks a significant advancement in minimally invasive organ transplants.
Cleveland Clinic is among only a small number of centres worldwide offering this surgical approach and was the first in Ohio to perform this procedure.
Robotic lung transplants have rarely been performed because they require advanced robotic capabilities and a skilled surgical team.
Gregory Jones, a thoracic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, led the surgical team for the single lung transplant procedure, which also included Kenneth McCurry, a cardiothoracic surgeon and surgical director of lung transplantation and enterprise director of transplantation.
Dr McCurry said: ‘This achievement reflects the collaboration and innovation across our transplant and surgical teams. As these technologies continue to evolve, they will play an increasingly important role in improving patient outcomes and advancing the future of transplantation. Indeed, our kidney and liver transplant programs in Ohio have also been at the forefront of robotic organ transplantation with great success.’
Dr Jones added: ‘This milestone reflects an important step forward in how we approach lung transplantation. It builds on our experience with both robotic surgery and transplant care and adds another option for some patients who may benefit from a minimally invasive approach.’
The surgery was performed on a man in his 70s with pulmonary fibrosis. Following the transplant, he was discharged from the hospital and is recovering well.
A team at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi performed the enterprise's first robotic lung transplant last year. It was also the first procedure of its kind performed in the Gulf region.
