AIIMS Delhi Performs India’s First Robotic Renal Transplant: Redefining Precision in Transplant Surgery

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has achieved a major medical milestone by performing India’s first robotic kidney transplant on a patient with kidney failure. The procedure marks a new phase in the use of robotic technology in organ transplantation, combining surgical accuracy with minimally invasive techniques. The transplanted kidney began producing urine immediately after surgery — an encouraging sign of early graft function and success.

A Closer Look at India’s First Robotic Kidney Transplant

A team of surgeons and urologists at AIIMS performed the transplant using the Da Vinci Xi surgical system, a robotic surgical platform. While the donor kidney was removed by traditional methods, the recipient’s surgery was conducted entirely with robotic assistance.

Dr Virendra Bansal, a professor in the surgery department and chief transplant surgeon at AIIMS, Delhi, explained that the use of robotic technology allows surgeons to operate through smaller cuts, which typically results in less bleeding, reduced discomfort, quicker recovery, and a lower risk of complications—helping patients resume normal activities and return home earlier.

Small incisions were made in the lower abdomen through which robotic arms were inserted. The robotic system enabled the surgeons to connect the donor kidney’s blood vessels and ureter to the recipient’s with precise, controlled movements.

The surgery, performed recently at AIIMS, is the first of its kind in a government institute in India, and the patient is reported to be recovering well.

Understanding Robotic Renal Transplantation

Kidney transplantation remains the preferred treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease, offering better long-term survival and quality of life than dialysis.

Traditionally, an open transplant requires a large abdominal incision, which can result in more postoperative pain, delayed mobility, and a longer hospital stay.

Robotic renal transplantation, on the other hand, is a minimally invasive approach that uses robotic arms guided by the surgeon from a console to perform the same intricate surgical steps through much smaller incisions.

The robotic system provides a three-dimensional magnified view and instruments that can move with greater dexterity than the human wrist. This enables surgeons to perform fine suturing of blood vessels and ureteric connections with higher precision, especially in deep pelvic spaces or in patients with complex anatomy.

The donor kidney is placed through a small pelvic incision and reconnected under robotic guidance, minimizing tissue trauma and improving visualization throughout the procedure.

Advantages and Limitations

Studies suggest that robotic kidney transplantation can reduce postoperative pain, blood loss, and wound-related complications, while also offering faster recovery and better cosmetic results. The smaller incision size may particularly benefit overweight patients or those at higher risk of surgical site infections.

However, there are practical challenges to consider. Robotic systems are expensive to install and maintain, which limits their availability in most public hospitals.

Surgeons also require specialized training to operate the robotic platform effectively. Moreover, current research shows that while short-term outcomes are comparable to open surgery, large-scale and long-term studies are still needed to confirm any additional clinical advantages.

India’s Step Toward Technological Integration in Transplantation

India performed its first successful kidney transplant in 1971, and since then, transplant programs have steadily evolved with improvements in donor surgery and immunosuppressive care.

The introduction of robotic assistance at AIIMS represents a natural progression toward precision-based, minimally invasive surgery.

AIIMS Delhi’s initiative aligns with a growing global trend of integrating robotic systems into complex procedures such as urological, cardiac, and gastrointestinal surgeries.

As expertise develops and outcomes are monitored, robotic kidney transplantation could become an option for selected patients at tertiary centers. While conventional open transplantation remains the gold standard, AIIMS’s pioneering effort lays the foundation for a future where technology and surgical skill work hand in hand to improve patient outcomes.

References

1. Spiers HVM, Sharma V, Woywodt A, Sivaprakasam R, Augustine T. Robot-assisted kidney transplantation: an update. Clin Kidney J. 2021 Nov 15;15(4):635-643. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfab214. PMID: 35371439; PMCID: PMC8967665.

   (Rh/Eth/SS/MSM)