Woman receives world's first robotic double lung transplant

A 57-year-old woman with COPD underwent the world's first fully robotic double lung transplant.

The groundbreaking surgery was performed by Dr. Stephanie Chan at NYU Langone Health in New York City in October. Just a month ago, Chan performed the country's first fully robotic single-lung transplant.

“This latest innovation marks a turning point in lung transplant surgery around the world and is just the beginning of a new era in patient care,” said Dr. Ralph Mosca, chair of cardiothoracic surgery at New York University Grossman School of Medicine in New York City. said.

Zhang and her team use the da Vinci Xi robot to perform minimally invasive implants.

A small incision is made between the ribs and a robot is used to remove and replace the damaged lung.

The groundbreaking double transplant took place on October 22, four days after patient Cheryl Melker was added to the transplant list after months of careful evaluation.

“For a long time, I was told I wasn't sick enough to undergo a transplant,” she recalled in a New York University news release.

“I am very grateful to the donor and his family for giving me another chance to live,” Meakar added. “And I'm so grateful to the doctors and nurses here for giving me hope.”

Meaker, a volunteer emergency medical technician with the Unionvale Fire Department in Dutchess County, New York, inherited a genetic risk for lung disease.

She was 43 years old when she was diagnosed with COPD in 2010. In 2022, I was infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and my COPD worsened.

Before health reasons forced her to the sidelines, Melker traveled the world as a scuba divemaster and earned a black belt in karate with her husband, Shahin. For many years, they owned a dojo where she taught martial arts.

Meakar said she was looking forward to being active again and praised the transplant team for making her quality of life a priority.

Mr. Chan, surgical director of the lung transplant program at NYU Langone Transplant Institute, was assisted in performing the dual transplant by Dr. Travis Geraci and Dr. Eugene Grossi.

“It is one of our greatest privileges to be able to help patients return to a healthy quality of life,” said Chan. “By using these robotic systems, we aim to reduce the impact of this major surgery on patients, minimize postoperative pain and deliver the best possible outcomes.”

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