From Carrel to Robotics: Renal Transplantation and the Evolution of its Surgical Technique

Renal transplantation has become the standard of care for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to significant advancements across various medical and surgical fields. This review highlights the evolution of renal transplantation techniques, while also exploring the latest tools and practices that promise to further improve their outcomes.

Since the first successful renal transplant, numerous innovations have been implemented in the various stages of renal graft implantation. These include improved techniques in vascular and urinary anastomoses, graft positioning, and the recent emergence of modern technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) which have shown promise in enhancing surgical performance. The field of renal transplantation is continuously evolving. As new and more efficient technologies continue to emerge, these too will become the standard of care and training. It is essential for transplant surgeons to understand the key historical developments that have led to our current level of expertise, so we can make effective use of these tools in further advancing the field.