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Israel's First Robot-Assisted Lung Transplant Performed Without Full Chest Opening
Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva has performed Israel's first robot-assisted lung transplant, a minimally invasive procedure that avoids a full chest opening. The surgery, which took place in October 2026, utilized the Da Vinci surgical system to connect the donor lung to the patient's blood vessels and airways through small incisions.
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What happened
- 01Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva performed Israel's first robot-assisted lung transplant in October 2026.
- 02The surgery utilized the Da Vinci robotic system to connect the donor lung through small chest incisions.
- 03By avoiding a full chest opening and rib spreading, the procedure minimizes post-operative pain and complications.
- 04Dr. Yuri Peysakhovich, head of Thoracic Surgery, described the robotic procedure as a medical breakthrough for Israel.
- 05The patient's recovery exceeded expectations, requiring minimal pain medication beyond paracetamol and a shorter hospital stay.
- 06The hospital conducted a preparatory procedure a month prior to the transplant to preserve muscles and nerves.
- 07Only about 20 robotic lung transplants have been performed worldwide since the first procedure in Spain in 2023.
- 08Medical professionals anticipate that this robotic technique could become the standard of care within five years.
Traditionally, lung transplants require a full sternotomy and rib spreading, which can cause severe pain and prolonged recovery. By avoiding these extensive incisions, the robotic technique aims to significantly reduce post-operative pain, lower the risk of complications, and shorten hospital stays.
Dr. Yuri Peysakhovich, also referred to as Dr. Yuri Weissman, the head of the Thoracic Surgery Department who led the operation, described the achievement as a medical breakthrough and a turning point for lung transplantation in Israel. He expressed optimism that this robotic method could become the standard of care within the next five years.
To prepare for the surgery, the hospital conducted a preparatory procedure a month earlier using two small incisions to improve post-operative pain management and preserve muscles and nerves. Following the transplant, the patient's recovery exceeded expectations, requiring minimal pain relief beyond paracetamol and resulting in a shorter hospitalization period. Globally, only about 20 such procedures have been performed since the first one in Spain in 2023.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
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Israel's First Robot-Assisted Lung Transplant Performed Without Full Chest Opening
