First robotic surgery for living donor kidney removal a success at Cape Town hospital

CAPE TOWN - The first robotic surgery used for living donor kidney removal has been successful at the Tygerberg Hospital.  

The surgery was performed on a 45-year-old woman who was donating a kidney to her daughter.  

The procedure makes kidney removal less invasive for living donors.  

The surgery was performed by urologist Dr Danelo du Plessis, a joint staff member with Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University.  

The Da Vinci Xi Robotic platform enabled surgeons to operate with precision through four robotic arms, controlled remotely via an immersive 3D console.

Du Plessis said the surgery exceeded expectations and was completed in under 90 minutes.

“Although robotic surgery on kidneys has been done for quite a while in South Africa and around the world, this is the first time that a donor nephrectomy has been done in the country. For this, for the transplant community, I think this is a great step forward.”