Texas Surgeons Perform First Fully Robotic Heart Transplant in US

Surgeons at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, Texas, achieved another milestone in US surgery by performing the first fully robotic heart transplant in US history.

Led by Kenneth K. Liao, MD, PhD, chief of cardiothoracic transplantation at the Baylor School of Medicine, the operating team used a robotic platform to remove and implant the donor heart through small, precise incisions, avoiding the need for an invasive open procedure that would break the sternum.

The 45-year-old patient had been hospitalized with advanced heart failure since November 2024 and supported by mechanical devices to support heart function. The successful procedure took place in early March 2025, and after a month at the hospital, the patient was discharged to home with no complications.

This minimally invasive, robotic approach preserved the chest wall’s integrity, which reduced blood loss and the need for transfusions, which also reduced the risk of developing antibodies against the transplanted heart. 

Overall recovery is also improved through the more precise robotic approach. According to Dr. Liao, who noted that “preserving the chest structure promoted early mobility, better respiratory function, and overall faster rehabilitation.”

As with other recent firsts in robotic surgery, this heart transplant continues to show the potential of this emerging approach.

"This robotic heart transplantation represents a remarkable, giant step forward in making even the most complex surgery safer," said Todd Rosengart, MD, FACS, chair of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor.

This US transplant follows surgeons in Saudi Arabia performing what is believed to be the world-first fully robotic heart transplant in November 2024.