Minimally invasive robotic versus conventional open living donor kidney transplantation

First robotic-assisted kidney transplants (RAKT) were performed in Germany in 2016. To introduce and establish this method as a routine procedure for patients in transplantation medicine, our 2-year experiences are presented.

Non-randomized open-label cohort study to compare functional and operative results as well as complication rates between RAKT and standard open transplantation. Collected data are part of ERUS RAKT Group Registry.

Since initiation of the RAKT program 21/27 transplantations after living kidney donations have been performed as RAKT. This represents the largest series of RAKT in Germany. Patient survival, transplant survival, and primary function rate are 100% (mean follow-up 12.9 ± 8.6 month). Mean incision to closure time was 306.1 ± 45.5, mean handling time 70.8 ± 13.1 min compared to 212.1 ± 40.6 min and 51.7 ± 9.9 min, respectively, in the standard group. Despite extended operating times using the robotic approach, comparable complication rates and graft function with significant reduction in median length of hospital stay (14 vs. 20 days) were observed.

RAKT extends the options for recipients towards minimally invasive techniques. Compared to classic open surgery, RAKT appears to be safe in selected patients without influencing graft outcome or higher complication rates. However, RAKT till today is not suitable for all patients but seems to be one of the upcoming new standard techniques in kidney transplantation.