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Woman underwent the world's first robotic transplant of two lungs
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A 57-year-old woman with COPD has become the world's first patient to undergo a fully robotic double lung transplant.
Breakthrough in medicine
The surgery was performed in October at NYU Langone Health in New York City by Dr. Stephanie Chang. A month earlier, Chang performed the country's first fully robotic single-lung transplant.
"This latest breakthrough marks a new chapter in the history of lung transplantation and opens a new era in patient care," said Dr. Ralph Mosca, chairman of cardiothoracic surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
How the operation is performed
Chang and her team used the da Vinci Xi robotic system to perform minimally invasive transplants. They made small incisions between the ribs and used the robot to remove damaged lungs and replace them with new ones.
Patient's story
The surgery was performed on October 22, just four days after the patient, 57-year-old Cheryl Mercar, was added to the transplant list. Mercar had undergone months of careful evaluation before the procedure.
“For a long time, I was told that my disease was not severe enough for a transplant,” Mercar recalled in an NYU press release.
“I am so grateful to the donor and his family for giving me a second chance at life. And to the doctors and nurses who gave me hope.”
Mercar, a volunteer paramedic with the Union Vale Fire Department in Dutchess County, New York, has a genetic predisposition to lung disease. She was diagnosed with COPD in 2010 at age 43. It worsened after she contracted COVID-19 in 2022.
Mercar had previously been active in sports, traveling the world as a scuba diving instructor and earning a black belt in karate with her husband Shahin. They owned a dojo for a long time, where she taught martial arts.
Mercar is looking forward to being active again and thanks her medical team for making improving her quality of life a priority.
Prospects for robotic surgeries
Dr. Chang, director of the lung transplant program at NYU Langone, performed the surgery along with colleagues Dr. Travis Geraci and Dr. Eugene Grossi.
“Helping patients return to a healthy life is one of the greatest privileges,” Chang said.
“Using robotic systems, we aim to reduce the impact of this complex surgery on patients, reduce their postoperative pain, and provide the best possible outcome.”