RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health has introduced the nation's first robotic living donor liver transplant at the university's transplant center, improving the recovery process for organ donors and recipients with fewer complications.  According to an announceme nt from VCU at around noon on Tuesday, March 25, the Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center at VCU Health is now the first center in the U.S. to perform the robotic living donor liver transplant using a liver from a living donor, with Dr. Seung Duk Lee, the current interim surgical director of liver transplant, having led the surgery. The National Center for Health Statistics found that an estimated 4.5 million adults are affected and need liver transplants due to advanced liver diseases. “This achievement marks a new era in liver transplantation, allowing us to perform highly complex procedures with greater precision, less invasiveness, and improved outcomes for our patients,” Lee said. “Very few centers offer robotic surgery for liver transplant patients, but at Hume-Lee, we are committed to redefining what is possible in order to offer our patients safer, faster recoveries with fewer complications.”  Lee used the da Vinci 5 surgical system during the procedure, becoming the first in the world to use the method for living liver donor surgery, according to VCU Health's website. The surgical system reportedly assists surgeons in delivering faster recovery times with minimal incision and reducing discomfort, enhancing the outcome of living donors. According to VCU, compared to traditional open surgeries, having a fully robotic liver transplantation offers multiple benefits: Smaller incisions lead to reduced pain and scarring and better cosmetic results Greater precision and control allow for meticulous suturing and organ placement Reduced blood loss and lower risk of complications Shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times enable patients to return to their daily lives sooner “A procedure of this complexity requires not only cutting-edge technology but also an incredible team of experts working together,” said David Bruno, M.D., FACS, director of Hume-Lee Transplant Center. “Being the first in the nation to complete a fully robotic living donor liver transplant is a testament to the collaboration, skill and dedication of our surgeons, transplant hepatologists, and entire care team. Innovation in transplant surgery doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens through teamwork, and I'm incredibly proud of our continued advancement in this field to positively impact our patients.”  According to the Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network, Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center is a top 5 living donor liver transplant program and a top 10 liver transplant program. For more information about VCU Health Hume-Lee Transplant Center, visit VCU Health's website. ...read more read less