A Northwest First: Robotic Kidney Transplant Surgery at Legacy Good Samaritan
November 04, 2024
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In late August, Pacific Northwest surgical history was made at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center.
Kidney transplant surgeon Dr. Nathan Osbun completed the first robotic transplant surgery in the region. The patient was 68 year-old David Mendez. Mr. Mendez’s new kidney functioned immediately after surgery and he has since recovered safely and is now resting comfortably at home.
For Mr. Mendez, surgery provided a new lease on life as a brave, deserving patient. For Dr. Osbun, it marked the achievement of a goal set three years ago when he joined Legacy Transplant Services. For Legacy Good Samaritan, this surgery supports our goal of clinical excellence and surgical innovation.
And for the patient community of the Pacific Northwest, the door of possibility opened further: Yet one more advanced medical development is now a reality that may increase access to transplant surgery for more patients suffering from kidney failure.
In recent years, the transplant community has embraced an interest in robotic surgery as a potential solution to improve surgical options for patients. But only a few transplant programs across the country have adopted the technique. With this minimally invasive approach, patients with higher BMIs or more complex anatomy may benefit from reduced risks of surgical infections, hernias or fluid collections that can impact the function of the transplanted kidney.
At Legacy Health, advanced medical practices and cutting-edge solutions have long been the practice, not the exception. The Pacific Northwest has eight transplant programs but Legacy Transplant Services has been a pioneer of those eight. Robotic surgery is a technology that Legacy has adopted aggressively and placed at its forefront, thus opening up new possibilities for patients.
“We have always aimed for excellence and innovation and tried to ensure that we remain at the forefront of transplant surgery,” says Dr. Osbun, a trained urologist who completed a subsequent American Society of Transplant Surgeons fellowship in kidney transplantation at University of California, Los Angeles.
Dr. Osbun says he and his surgical team, including nurses, scrub techs and physician associates, have been training for the historic transplant for some time.
Jennifer Duncan, RN,
Nathan Osbun, MD,
Bruce Fernstrom, PA (with The Oregon Clinic),
Lauren Schergen, MD (with Oregon Anesthesia Group),
Wiki Lam, RN
“As a team and a hospital, we laid the groundwork by observing live surgeries and partnering with the operating room staff,” he says. “We spent hours developing specialized training sessions to practice and prepare.”
They also relied on a bit of luck and patience. Legacy Transplant Services participates in paired donation programs, a process that allows two or more pairs of transplant donors and recipients to swap organs so that each recipient receives a compatible organ. Mr. Mendez was eventually matched through paired donation, thus making it possible to schedule a surgery.
Dr. Osbun credits Mr. Mendez’s courage and the enthusiasm and meticulousness of the entire Legacy surgical team for the transplant’s success. Now that it’s been completed for the first time, he envisions further advancements.
“We are dedicated to expanding the use of robotic surgery within our region, setting ourselves apart by embracing innovation,” says Dr. Osbun. “While robotic surgery may not become the predominant surgical method, it’s certainly a valuable addition to our repertoire. This advanced technique opens new possibilities, particularly in how we perform and utilize transplant surgeries.”
Last year, Legacy Transplant Services completed 116 transplants, higher than the annual average of about 100. Of those 116 transplants in 2023, 22 were living donor surgeries. Expanding the surgical options for kidney transplant using robotic technology may help remove barriers for those in need.
Pictured: Pastor David Mendez
