Establishing a robotic kidney transplant program for obese recipients

The integration of minimally invasive and robotic techniques into transplant surgery has led to reduced perioperative morbidity and shortened hospital stays. Robotic-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) is now established across multiple transplant centers, offering expanded access to care—particularly for patients with elevated body mass index (BMI), a population traditionally underserved by conventional surgical approaches. Despite its growing clinical promise, widespread adoption of RAKT remains limited, primarily due to the absence of a structured implementation framework. In this review, we present a comprehensive roadmap to guide institutions through the critical early phases of program development, shaped by insights drawn from our firsthand and ongoing experience. By delineating key strategic and operational components, our aim is to facilitate accelerated dissemination of RAKT and promote equitable access to this transformative surgical innovation.