Organ transplantation with advanced technology!
Physician-Robot cooperation yields big gains!
ROBOTIC ERA IN ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION!
In recent years, rapid developments in both medicine and technology in Turkey have led to the introduction of brand new applications in surgical techniques, one of which is robotic surgery. Stating that robotic surgery is also used in organ transplantation today, Acıbadem University Atakent Hospital Organ Transplant Center Supervisor Prof. Dr. Hamdi Karakayalı emphasizes that this provides very important gains to both the patient, the donor and the surgeon performing the organ transplantation. Prof. Dr. Hamdi Karakayalı made important statements about the point reached in organ transplantation and robotic organ transplantation performed with advanced technology.
Some are reborn, some hold on to life with their new face, legs and arms. According to data released by the Ministry of Health in November last year, 24,449 patients are on the waiting lists for kidney transplantation, 2,600 for liver transplantation, 1,422 for heart transplantation, 277 for pancreas transplantation, 204 for lung transplantation and 4,119 for cornea transplantation, hoping to ‘return to life’ and regain their health with a donated organ. While Turkey is progressing slowly in cadaveric organ donation, it is at the top of the world list in living donor organ transplantation. Acıbadem University Atakent Hospital Organ Transplant Center Supervisor Prof. Dr. Hamdi Karakayalı states: “Turkey is one of the most experienced countries in the world regarding living donor organ transplants, for this reason, many patients from abroad come to our country to access this treatment opportunity, and physicians from many countries of the world come to our country and our organ transplant centers for training purposes to observe and learn these surgeries. Turkey is becoming more and more preferred not only because it has the most experienced physicians but also because it has hospitals with excellent infrastructure and equipment using the latest technological developments.”
Advanced technology added to medical experience!
The developments in the field of medicine in Turkey and the stunning advances in technology added to the experience of physicians have brought innovations in surgical techniques in recent years that were unimaginable in the past. Emphasizing that today, even extremely difficult and complex surgeries can be performed in much shorter periods of time, with less bleeding risk, much safer for the patient and more comfortable for the surgeon, and much better results can be obtained, Prof. Dr. Karakayalı explains: “For example, laparoscopic (closed) surgeries have become a routine procedure in organ transplants, especially in kidney donor surgeries, for almost 20 years, resulting in shorter hospital stays, less pain and better cosmetic results for kidney donors. As a result of the advantages of this method in organ transplants as well as in other surgeries, kidney transplant recipient surgeries in some selected patients, and recently even liver transplant donor surgeries have started to be performed with the closed method. Thanks to increasing experience and constantly developing technology, this method is becoming applicable in liver transplant recipient surgeries as well.”
Robotic surgery has come to the fore in recent years
Stating that one of the most important technological developments in the field of medicine in recent years is the introduction of robotic surgery, Prof. Dr. Hamdi Karakayalı adds, “Robotic surgery, which is widely used especially in urological, gynecological and gastrointestinal system surgeries, has started to take its place in organ transplantation. Although the increase in cost is an important limiting factor, it should be emphasized that it has significant advantages compared to laparoscopic surgery.”
Three-dimensional image instead of two
So what are the differences of organ transplantation with robotic surgery from laparoscopic surgery?
Organ Transplant Center Supervisor Prof. Dr. Karakayalı summarizes these differences: “In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon performs the operation with the help of a camera and instruments inserted into the abdomen, accompanied by a 2-dimensional image; in robotic surgery, the operation is performed with a 3-dimensional and more magnified high-resolution image. Here, the mobility of the surgical instruments placed in the abdomen is much higher, making it easier to perform the surgery in a controlled and safe manner.”
Great benefits for the recipient, the donor and the surgeon
Robotic surgery does not necessarily mean that the surgery is performed only by the robot. The arms of the robot only perform the movements of the surgeon using it. The use of all these technological developments in the field of medicine, especially in surgery, has only one purpose; to perform an operation that is safer, with fewer complications and less risk of bleeding! In this way, the patient’s hospital stay is shortened, the patient feels less pain, the surgical incisions are much smaller and the patient can return to work and social life earlier.
Prof. Dr. Karakayalı says, “On the other hand, since the organ is removed from the donor without any damage, it starts to function immediately when transplanted to the recipient, and the recipient’s recovery process is smooth and shorter.”
This was the news a total of 30 grandchildren were waiting for!
A BOND FORMED BY KIDNEY EXCHANGE BETWEEN TÜRKIYE AND BULGARIA
Emin family from Bulgaria and Erik family from Van city in Türkiye experienced a life-changing event through a paired kidney exchange, facilitated by Professor Hamdi Karakayalı at Acıbadem Hospital in Istanbul. Both families faced chronic kidney failure, but when no suitable donors were found locally, a cross-border solution was achieved. The operation, which used a minimally invasive approach, allowed quick recovery and high success rates, bringing immense joy and improved quality of life to both families. Professor Karakayalı emphasized the importance of kidney transplantation as the definitive treatment for chronic kidney failure and highlighted the rising number of patients opting for treatment in Türkiye due to its advanced medical capabilities.
