Professor Shin Minho of Chosun University Hospital Successfully Performs First Living Donor Nephrectomy Using Robotic Surgery

Professor Shin Minho of the Department of Surgery at Chosun University Hospital is performing robotic surgery. Provided by Chosun University Hospital

Chosun University Hospital announced on the 23rd that Professor Shin Minho of the Department of Surgery successfully performed the first living donor nephrectomy using robotic surgery in the Gwangju and Jeonnam region on the 5th of last month.

Living donor kidney transplantation is a procedure in which a healthy donor's kidney is removed and transplanted into a recipient. In this surgery, it is of utmost importance to prioritize the donor's safety and to remove the kidney while preserving it without any damage.

In particular, this surgery was a highly challenging case accompanied by an anatomical variation in which the donor had two renal arteries, making it difficult to perform precise vascular dissection and resection with conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Professor Shin utilized the precise control and high-resolution three-dimensional view of the robotic surgery system to safely separate the kidney and vascular structures, completing the operation without any issues. The subsequent kidney transplantation surgery for the recipient was also successfully carried out.

The donor and the recipient showed no abnormal findings after surgery, had good prognoses, and were discharged from the hospital. They are currently receiving follow-up care on an outpatient basis.

Professor Shin Minho explained, "When there are multiple renal arteries, the level of surgical difficulty increases and meticulous technique is required," adding, "Robotic surgery can ensure a high level of safety and accuracy even in complex anatomical structures." He continued, "We plan to continue expanding the use of robotic surgery in the field of high-difficulty organ transplantation."

The Organ Transplantation Center at Chosun University Hospital has established itself as a hub for organ transplantation in the Gwangju and Jeonnam region, with achievements such as the first successful liver transplantation in Gwangju and Jeonnam, and the first successful ABO-incompatible kidney and liver transplantations in the Chungcheong and Honam regions.

Meanwhile, Professor Shin is actively engaged in academic activities, serving as a member of the Academic Research Committee of the Korean Society for Transplantation, a member of the Liver Academic Committee of the Korean Association of HBP Surgery, and a lifetime member of the Korean Pancreatic Surgery Society.