Robot-Assisted Kidney Transplantation in Children
摘要
Robot-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) is increasingly recognized as a viable alternative to open surgery for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), offering advantages such as reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, minimal surgical site infections, and superior cosmetic outcomes. While RAKT has gained traction in adult populations, its implementation in pediatric patients remains limited, primarily due to anatomical and physiological challenges inherent to this group. These include a smaller abdominal cavity, limited circulating blood volume, and heightened sensitivity to intraoperative hemodynamic shifts. However, early experiences suggest that with appropriate adaptations and an experienced multidisciplinary team, RAKT in children is both safe and feasible. This chapter provides a detailed technical overview of pediatric RAKT, including patient preparation, positioning, robotic port placement, and graft introduction. Special attention is given to the use of regional hypothermia with ice slush to preserve graft function, the adaptation of vascular anastomosis techniques to accommodate size discrepancies between adult donor organs and pediatric recipients, and the importance of maintaining a low and stable pneumoperitoneum to mitigate potential graft injury. Anesthetic considerations such as CO₂ absorption, hypothermia, and cardiovascular effects of Trendelenburg positioning are discussed in the context of pediatric physiology. Postoperative management protocols are outlined, covering intensive care monitoring, pain control strategies suitable for renal impairment, and tailored immunosuppressive regimens. The risk of infection is addressed with time-specific prophylactic approaches, and common complications such as delayed graft function, acute rejection, and hypertension are reviewed. Emerging evidence supports the clinical benefits of RAKT in children, although larger studies and long-term data are needed to confirm graft survival outcomes and further optimize procedural standardization. As robotic surgery becomes more accessible and technology advances, RAKT may play an increasingly central role in pediatric kidney transplantation, offering a minimally invasive solution for a highly vulnerable population.