There are just “five hospitals across Spain” that employ robotic surgery for kidney transplantation
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 11 Mar. (Europa Press) –
The transplantation team at the University Hospital Complex of the Canary Islands (CHUC), situated in Tenerife, has conducted the first renal transplant from a living donor using robotic surgery, specifically the da Vinci robot, in the Canary Islands. This procedure took place on February 6.
The recipient was discharged after eleven days, while the donor was released after six days, as indicated by the hospital in their official statement.
On Tuesday, Health Minister Esther Monzón announced this “historic milestone” for the hospital during a press conference, alongside the manager, Adasat Goya, the head of the Urology Service, Tomás Concepción, and the head of the Nephrology Service, Domingo Hernández.
Present at the announcement was the transplanted patient, José Blas Laiz, who expressed feeling “fortunate” and grateful for the care he received and for being chosen for this innovative approach. He also noted being “impressed” by his speedy and positive recovery.
His brother, the donor Pablo Laiz, conveyed his “gratitude” for the information and support provided by the medical professionals throughout the entire process. He took the opportunity to encourage potential donors, stating, “The experience has been incredibly rewarding, and it does not compromise quality of life.”
About robotic surgery
This procedure necessitates a considerably high level of skill. Only five hospitals in Spain utilise robotic surgery for kidney transplants.
Kidney extraction is accomplished through laparoscopy, a minimally invasive technique for the donor. The renal transplant in the recipient is performed simultaneously, ensuring that the kidney is transplanted within an hour of extraction.
Previously, kidney transplants were performed using open surgery. The adoption of robotic surgery presents manifold advantages as it reduces complications and facilitates quicker recovery for the transplanted patient.
Specifically, they explain that four small incisions in the abdomen are required to position the robot’s arms, alongside an incision in the patient’s navel through which the organ is inserted.
COLLABORATION
This groundbreaking procedure included the collaboration of Dr. Antonio Alcaraz, Head of Urology at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, and Dr. Mirella Musquera, a urologist from the same institution, alongside Urologists from the HUC, Tomás Concepción and Ana Plata.
The hospital emphasises that this surgery is a multidisciplinary effort, with the involvement of nephrologists, anaesthetists, immunologists, and nursing staff, among others.
The professionals from the Clinic hospital in Barcelona are responsible for a European mentoring programme, tasked with ensuring that the centre meets all necessary criteria to conduct this type of surgery.
Renal donor transplantation
This method of transplanting kidneys was first implemented in 2007 at the hospital. Living donor transplants—meaning when a living individual donates one of their kidneys to another—can occur between those who are genetically or emotionally related to the recipient, regardless of whether a biological connection exists.
By December 2024, the HUC had conducted 146 living donor transplants since this method commenced, with 12 occurring in 2024 alone.
They highlight that renal transplants from living donors represent the optimal treatment option for patients with kidney failure, provided that the patient is fit for the procedure, as this not only enhances quality of life but also increases the patient’s longevity.
ACTIVITY
Since its establishment in 1981, a total of 3,355 kidney transplants have been carried out at the HUC. Of this total, 115 have been renewal transplants and 146 living donor renal transplants. Furthermore, among these, 10 faced blood group incompatibility, 5 employed desensitisation techniques, and 5 were conducted through cross transplantation.
In 2024, 126 kidney transplants occurred, including 3 renewals and 12 live donor transplants.
The hospital underscores that this represents the “highest” number since the renal transplant programmes were separated within the Autonomous Community. Thus, it has become the tenth hospital in Spain for the number of kidney transplants performed (including both living donor and deceased donor transplants).
They assert that the HUC was the tenth hospital in Spain in terms of the volume of kidney transplants in 2024, achieving the highest transplant figures since the division of the two renal transplant programmes in the Autonomous Community.
