Thailand’s first successful kidney transplant using robotic-assisted surgery

The Rajavithi Hospital has become the first in Thailand to successfully complete a kidney transplant using robotic-assisted surgery, marking a milestone high precision medical treatment to reduce pain and improve post-operative quality of life.

Dr. Nattapong Wongwiwat, director-general of the Medical Services Department, said today that the success at Rajavithi Hospital reflects the development of high-end medical technology in Thailand, which focuses on high precision treatment to reduce complications and increased access to specific high-quality services.

This historic surgical success is attributable to the cooperation of the Centre of Excellence in Robot-Assisted Urological Surgery and the Centre of Excellence in Organ Transplant, under the leadership of the urological surgery and the nephrology teams at Rajavithi Hospital, according to Dr. Sakarn Bunnag, deputy director-general of the Department of Medical Services.

The kidney transplant follows more than 400 urological surgical procedures using robotic-assisted surgery and more than 449 traditional kidney transplants conducted at the hospital, said Tanet Thaidumrong, chief of the urological surgery section.

The advantage of robotic-assisted surgery is that the technology provides high definition 3D images, allowing doctors to see full details of the blood system and fine tissue ten times clearer than traditional surgery, he said, adding that this technique will help reduce complications and the risks of post-operative infections.

Currently, there are more than 8,000 patients in Thailand awaiting organ donations.