• What is robotic kidney transplantation?

  Normally, patient needing kidney transplantation requires 15-25 cm long incision depending on the body stature; obese patients requiring larger incision. Retraction of the wound is required for carrying out kidney transplantation leading to soft tissue injury and hence is more painful. Using da Vinci robotic platform, kidney transplantation is carried out with just 6 cm long incision and placement of 5 or 6 ports; each port site is about 1 cm long. There is no need of retraction. In adult females, kidney can go through vagina and transplantation carried out without any large incision on the abdomen!! This is not only cosmetic but also associated with less pain, early ambulation, and rapid recovery of the recipient.

• How can kidney enter into the abdomen through a 6 cm incision?

  The length of the kidney is about 11 cm and width is about 5 cm. A kidney can easily go through a 6 cm incision into the abdomen without any trauma to it. Similarly, vagina is elastic and hence normal delivery of the baby is possible. Size of the kidney is smaller than the head of the baby and it can easily entered through the vagina into the abdomen.

• Who operates robot?

  Surgeon trained both in robotic surgery and robotic kidney transplantation operates the robot. In fact, robotic kidney transplantation has been developed by the surgical team of IKDRC-ITS and experience is over 235 cases till March 2016- the largest in the world!!!

• What is the total cost of robotic kidney transplantation?

  Total cost of robotic kidney transplantation including pre-operative investigations, pre-operative hemodialysis, operative charges, disposable, drugs and hospital stay maximum up to 30 days would be about 5 lakhs rupees. In fact, hospital stay can be reduced due to minimally invasive operation and patient may go earlier to home.

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