Polycystic Kidney Disease and Robotic Transplant

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is one of the most common causes of kidney failure. It is an inherited disorder where      painful cysts grow on the kidneys, which leads to loss of kidney function.

Typically, when patients with PKD have a transplant, very large incisions are needed in order to remove the kidneys that    have grown in size due to the cysts. With larger incisions comes a higher risk of infection and complications.

In 2020, UI Health performed the world’s first robotic-assisted double-kidney removal followed immediately by a living-        donor kidney transplant in a patient with severe polycystic kidney disease. Previously, a patient with PKD would have to      have two surgeries; one to remove the native kidneys and after a healing period, a second surgery for transplant.

This innovative surgical approach has requires only one surgery, which is medically and surgically optimal.