First robot-assisted living kidney transplant celebrated in Erlangen!

First robot-assisted living kidney transplant celebrated in Erlangen!

What's new from Erlangen? In a groundbreaking step for medicine and urology, the first robot-assisted living kidney transplant took place at the Erlangen-Nuremberg Transplant Center in July 2025. The first living kidney transplant was ever carried out here almost 60 years ago. For about a decade, Erlangen University Hospital has opted for minimally invasive organ removal. This new method could now set the standard for eligible receiving patients. uk-erlangen.de reports that PD Dr. Hendrik Apel, the senior physician at the Urology and Pediatric Urology Clinic, carried out this innovative transplant.

Another highlight of the da Vinci surgical system: It is controlled from a console, which enables doctors to carry out tremor-free and precise movements. This technique not only brings benefits for the operation itself, but also for the patients. They experience less postoperative pain, faster recovery and higher quality of care. During the procedure, the 58-year-old donor's kidney was transplanted to her daughter with IgA nephritis using the da Vinci system. The donor kidney, however, was removed conventionally, i.e. laparoscopically, which further underlines the possibilities of robot-assisted surgery.

The advantages of robot-assisted surgery

The advantages of robot-assisted technology, which is now also being used in kidney transplants, are impressive. According to uniklinik-freiburg.de, the minimally invasive treatment not only enables a high level of precision, but also a significantly reduced complication rate. Important kidney functions can be preserved, particularly during procedures such as partial nephrectomy, in which only the tumorous part of a kidney is removed. This not only improves the patient's quality of life, but also the overall results of the treatment.

Prof. Dr. Bernd Wullich, director of urology at Erlangen University Hospital, highlights the future prospects of da Vinci operations in surgery far beyond transplantation. Since the system is already used for benign and malignant diseases of the kidney and prostate, it could well represent a revolution in surgical practice.

A look beyond the borders: The expertise in Germany

The Diakonie Clinic in Stuttgart is another center that has groundbreaking experience in the field of robot-assisted urology. Prof. Dr. Christian Schwentner, a world-leading surgeon with around 1,000 robotic-assisted procedures per year, emphasizes the importance of this advanced technology for patient care. With two latest generation Da Vinci Xi systems, they are one of the largest and most experienced clinics in Europe. diakonie-klinikum.de shows that all procedures are carried out with all the advantages of minimally invasive surgical methods, which results in lower blood loss and less pain and shorter hospital stays.

Developments in the areas of robotic-assisted kidney transplantation and oncological surgery show that medical technology is on an impressive path. The new procedures not only open up innovative treatment options, but also the potential to sustainably improve the lives of many people. It will be exciting to see what the future has to offer in surgery!