First Pregnant Woman After Robot-Assisted Uterus Transplant

It is impossible for a woman with an unhealthy uterus or a woman without a uterus to give birth to a healthy baby. However, the first successful case of a woman delivering a baby after having a uterus transplant occurred in 2014, which since then has opened the door for 12 other women.

On January 9, researchers made an announcement on a woman who received a robot-assisted uterine transplant which sharply reduced the risks involved in the procedure is now pregnant. She is expected to give birth to a baby this spring. Should everything be like what scientists expected, this will be the first baby born thanks to a uterine transplant assisted by robots, creating a premise for later cases.

This successful transplant case was a part of the University of Gothenburg’s research project in Sweden. The research team said that in fact, the uterus donor benefited from the utilizing of robots more than the recipient.

To remove the uterus, the researchers conducted a robot-assisted keyhole surgery instead of a typical open one. Initially, five incisions, one centimeter each, were made in the abdomen of the donor. Next, they carried out the uterus detachment by using robotic arms with surgical tools which were controlled through joysticks.

Then, they implanted the uterus into the receiver through the open surgery.

So far, the scientists have successfully carried out six uterus transplants assisted by the robot and many more to come. Despite not cutting down the surgery time, these robotic arms are still beneficial.

Mr. Mats Brännström, one of the researchers, said:

If the scientists can affirm that the robots are able to improve the results of uterus transplants assisted by the robot and women can be pregnant and deliver a baby afterward, more women might be encouraged to donate their uteruses. As a result, the rate of women that benefit from this procedure will undoubtedly be increased.

Brännström believes that robotic surgery has promising potential in this field.