A surgical team has performed the first fully robotic double lung transplant in the world. The procedure marks a breakthrough in the potential of robotic surgery and minimally invasive patient care.
The team transplanted both lungs into a 57-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the da Vinci Xi robotic system at each stage.
Small incisions were made between the ribs then the robotic system was used to remove the lung, prepare the surgical site for implantation, and implant the new lung. Both lungs were transplanted using these robotic techniques.
“I’m so grateful to the donor and their family for giving me another chance at life,” said patient Cheryl Mehrkar.
“For a long time, I was told I wasn’t sick enough for a transplant. The team at NYU Langone Health centered my quality of life as a priority, and I’m so grateful to the doctors and nurses here for giving me hope.”
Mehrkar, who inherited a genetic predisposition to lung disease, was diagnosed with COPD in 2010 at 43 years old. Her condition worsened after a bout with Covid-19 in 2022.
Throughout her life, she has been an active thrill-seeker, traveling the world as a scuba divemaster, becoming an avid motorcyclist, and earning her karate black belt with her husband, Shahin. The couple owned a dojo for over 20 years, and she had a passion for teaching before her health sidelined her.
After retiring from karate, she became a volunteer emergency medical technician with the Union Vale Fire Department in Dutchess County, New York. She remains active in the department to give back to her community.
“It is one of the greatest privileges to be able to help patients return to a healthy quality of life,” said medical director of lung transplantation for the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, Dr. Chang.
“By using these robotic systems, we aim to reduce the impact this major surgery has on patients, limit their postoperative pain, and give them the best possible outcome. It couldn’t happen here without a talented group of surgeons and an institution dedicated to moving transplantation forward.”
“This latest breakthrough in robotic surgery speaks to the culture of innovation we’ve built by bringing the most talented people in their fields together,” said Robert Montgomery, director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute.
“Our Transplant Institute team pushes the field forward to better serve our patients and deliver the lifesaving care they need with the best patient experience.”
“We are grateful to have some of the most talented surgeons in the world who break barriers and push the boundaries of what is possible for our patients,” added Ralph Mosca, professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
“This latest innovation is a watershed moment in lung transplantation surgery worldwide and just the beginning of a new era in patient care.”
