VietNamNet Bridge – Doctors at Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City have carried out kidney removal from living donors using robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery.

Surgeons at Cho Ray Hospital carry out kidney removal from living donors using robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. — Photo courtesy of Cho Ray Hospital

Thai Minh Sam, head of the hospital’s Department of Urology, said the operation was the country’s first ever kidney removal keyhole surgery with assistance of robot.

The operation was carried out on May 16 on Duong Xuan T., 53. who donated his kidney to his relative, Nguyen Van V, 55.

The second operation was carried out on June 20 on Nguyen Van T, 50, who donated the kidney to his daughter, Nguyen Thi Diem Tr., 27.

There was no blood transfusion and no complication during the surgeries, Sâm said at a press meeting yesterday (June 27).

The two donors were released from the hospital two days after surgery.

The two kidney transplants (without the use of a robot) were successfully performed and the two patients were released from the hospital seven days afterwards.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery significantly reduces blood loss, pain and recovery time, he said.

However, the cost of robot-assisted surgery is high, ranging from VND 90-120 million (US$3,900-5,200) a surgery as it is not covered by the national health insurance scheme.

Cho Ray Hospital has performed 68 robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeries since it began using the surgical technique in October last year.

Source: VNS