Surgeons at WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Transplant Center have performed the world’s first-reported robotic combined liver and kidney transplant. This innovative procedure extends the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to patients who require transplantation of multiple organs. Previously, robotic techniques had been successfully used for separate kidney or liver transplants, but this case marks a milestone for complex multi-organ transplantation. The patient, Darrell Bosworth, had developed failure of both organs due to advanced liver disease and cirrhosis. The team first performed the liver transplant, followed by the kidney transplant using the same incisions, which took significantly less time. The patient experienced remarkably little postoperative pain, and both organs started functioning immediately. By the 10th day post-surgery, his mental clarity had improved significantly, and within two weeks, he was able to climb a short flight of stairs. The surgeons hope that this approach will eventually allow more transplant patients to benefit from less invasive techniques and an easier recovery.
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