First Fully Robotic Heart Transplant in the US Performed Without Opening Patient’s Chest

Surgeons at Baylor St Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, Texas, successfully performed the first robotic heart transplant in the U.S. without opening the chest, using small abdominal incisions. This minimally invasive procedure reduced trauma, blood loss, and infection risk, allowing for quicker recovery. The patient, who had been hospitalized since November 2024, underwent the transplant in March 2025, recovering without complications. Lead surgeon Dr. Kenneth Liao, chief of cardiothoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Baylor, emphasized the advantages of avoiding chest opening. Dr. Todd Rosengart, chair of the department of surgery at Baylor, noted that this innovative approach significantly enhances safety in complex surgery.