Robotic-Assisted Single-Port Donor Nephrectomy using the Da Vinci Single-site Platform.

In 2009, University of Maryland Medical Center surgeons were the first in Maryland and third in the U.S. to perform single-incision laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. Although single-port donor nephrectomy offers improved cosmetic outcomes – technical challenges have limited its application to selected centers. Our center has performed over 400 single-port donor nephrectomies.

In a recent study, Dr. John LaMattina explores the use of robotics to improve living donor kidney surgery.  The da Vinci single-site robotic platform was utilized in an effort to overcome the steric, visualization, ergonomic, and other technical limitations associated with the single-port approach.