Vietnam has first-ever robot-assisted kidney removal surgery

Doctors at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City have carried out kidney removal from living donors using robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery.

Surgeons at Cho Ray Hospital carry out kidney removal from living donors using robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. (Photo: Cho Ray Hospital)

Dr. Thai Minh Sam, head of the hospital’s Department of Urology, said it is the first time in Vietnam that a kidney removal keyhole surgery has been performed with the assistance of a robot.

The operation was carried out on May 16^th on Duong Xuan T., born in 1965, who donated his kidney to his relative.

The second operation was carried out on June 20^th on Nguyen Van T., born in 1968, who donated the kidney to his daughter.

There was no blood transfusion and no complication during the surgeries, Sam said at a press meeting on June 27.

The two donors were released from the hospital two days after surgery.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery significantly reduces blood loss, pain and recovery time, he said.

However, the cost of robot-assisted surgery is high, ranging from VND 90 million- 120 million (USD 3,900- 5,200) a surgery as it is not covered by the national health insurance scheme.

Cho Ray Hospital has performed 68 robot-assisted laparoscopic surgeries since it began using the surgical technique in October last year./.

VNF/NDO