A surgical team at WashU Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Transplant Center has performed the world's first-reported robotic combined liver and kidney transplant.

Robotic transplantation had previously been performed successfully for kidney transplants and liver transplants separately, for the first time in 2020 and 2023 respectively. Adeel Khan, the surgeon who performed these transplants, said that patients in need of simultaneous kidney and liver transplantation are "often among the sickest and most fragile patients we care for."

The patient in this case, Darrell Bosworth, was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and kidney failure. His severe liver disease progressed to affect his kidney function. He lost about 70 pounds and was largely confined to bed, and was experiencing worsening episodes of confusion.

Surgeons Khan and Jessica Lindemann were able to perform both surgeries after three weeks of Bosworth being on the waitlist. The liver transplant was performed first and took just over eight hours; the robotic instruments were controlled while viewing the operative field through a highly magnified 3D display. The kidney transplant was performed the following morning.

Bosworth experienced remarkably little postoperative pain. His condition has improved since the surgeries were performed.