Steven Wisel, MD
Chair, Communications Committee
What was once a figment of brave imaginations is now common. The use of the robotic platform has expanded throughout every field of surgery, and transplantation is no exception. While early adopters have shared their achievements through plenary talks and proctorship, the demand to adopt robotic techniques in transplant has only grown. Now, ASTS has partnered with Intuitive Surgical to provide a critical resource in training the next generation of robotic transplant surgeons.
Last December, ASTS and Intuitive Surgical co-hosted the inaugural Robotic Surgery for Living Donor Nephrectomy & Kidney Transplantation Masterclass in Peachtree, GA. Gathering experts and thought leaders from around the nation, this two-day Masterclass offered didactics, discussion, and wet lab exposure to robotic innovations in kidney transplantation. The goal? To provide aspiring ASTS members the confidence and expertise to expand robotic approaches to kidney transplantation across the nation.
First-day didactics were led by a panel of experts and innovators, including Phillipe Abreu, MD (University of Colorado), Adeel Khan, MD (Washington University, St. Louis), Michelle Nguyen, MD (Mayo Clinic Arizona), Mario Spaggiari, MD (University of Illinois Chicago), and Atsi Yoshida (Henry Ford). Course participants discussed robotic approaches for right and left donor nephrectomy, how to build a robotics team, and how to identify early patients when launching a robotic donor nephrectomy program. The experts also shared their experience pioneering robotic kidney implantation – although an off-label use of robotic technology, robotic kidney transplants represent an exciting new frontier. On the second day, participants utilized high-fidelity models to gain essential tips and tricks for setup and operative technique in donor nephrectomy. By the end of the Masterclass, participants left with new skills and confidence to launch their own programs back home.
“I found it educational and inspiring,” shared Justin Steggerda, MD (Cedars-Sinai). “[The Masterclass] provided a good deal of confidence and made the operation feel more accessible. I think it got a lot of people on the same page about where the field is going. And it was awe inspiring to see the skill and creativity within thought leaders of ASTS.”
Dr. Steggerda also noted that the education is ongoing: course participants and instructors created an active group text thread, which has been an incredible resource for case planning and discussing approaches to complex cases.
Overall, the course was well-received and offered a novel robotics curriculum. Keep an eye out for future collaborations between ASTS and Intuitive Surgical as frontiers continue to expand in robotic transplantation.