Surgeons at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center have achieved a significant milestone by performing the first fully robotic heart transplant in the United States. The procedure was led by Dr. Kenneth Liao, who utilized a surgical robot to make small incisions, avoiding the need for traditional chest opening and breastbone breaking.
Dr. Liao explained the benefits of this approach: "Opening the chest and spreading the breastbone can affect wound healing and delay rehabilitation and prolong the patient's recovery, especially in heart transplant patients who take immunosuppressants." He emphasized that "with the robotic approach, we preserve the integrity of the chest wall, which reduces the risk of infection and helps with early mobility, respiratory function and overall recovery."
The clinical advantages of robotic heart transplant surgery include less surgical trauma, reduced bleeding from bone cutting, and minimized blood transfusion needs. This is particularly beneficial as it lowers the risk of developing antibodies against the transplanted heart.
The patient involved in this groundbreaking surgery was a 45-year-old man who had been hospitalized with advanced heart failure since November 2024. He received his new heart in March 2025 and spent a month recovering in hospital before being discharged without complications.
Dr. Bradley T. Lembcke, president of Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, stated: “Becoming the home of this medical breakthrough in robotic heart transplantation further establishes Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center as a worldwide health care leader.” He added that this achievement brings pride to their hospital and enhances its legacy of medical accomplishments.
Dr. Todd Rosengart also commented on this advancement: "This robotic heart transplantation represents a remarkable, giant step forward in making even the most complex surgery safer and we are delighted to offer this great success to the world."
The success of this procedure highlights what can be achieved when innovation meets surgical expertise, with Dr. Liao noting that their goal is to provide patients with "the safest, most effective and least invasive procedures," facilitated by robotic technology.
