In a first, world's completely robotic double lung transplant has been received by a 57-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
According to Medical Xpress, at NYU Langone Health in New York City, the breakthrough surgery was performed in October by Dr Stephanie Chang.
Moreover, Chang performed a completely robotic single lung transplant, which was the country’s first, just a month before.
"This latest innovation is a watershed moment in lung transplantation surgery worldwide and just the beginning of a new era in patient care," said Dr Ralph Mosca, who is a chair of cardiothoracic surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in New York City.
For performing the minimally invasive transplants, Chang and her team use a da Vinci Xi robot.
Between the ribs, they make small incisions, then use the robot to remove and replace the damaged lungs.
Four days after patient Cheryl Mehrkar was added to the transplant list after months of careful evaluation, the groundbreaking double transplant was performed on October 22.
"For a long time, I was told I wasn't sick enough for a transplant," she recalled in an NYU news release.
"I'm so grateful to the donor and their family for giving me another chance at life," Mehrkar added. "And I'm so grateful to the doctors and nurses here for giving me hope."
Protesting opponents say they fear vulnerable people could be coerced into dying
CCHF is tick-borne viral disease with case fatality rate ranging from 10% to 40%
42-year-old patient died a day after testing positive for CCHF in Karachi on 16th, says health department
Air pollution also increases sensitivity to allergens as invasive species spread to new regions
Abortion in England and Wales is criminal offence under Offences Against the Person Act 1861
Misunderstandings and lack of awareness identified as the main reasons for vaccine refusal
