The world’s first completely robotic double lung transplant has been received by a 57-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

According to international media reports, at NYU Langone Health in New York City, the breakthrough surgery was performed in October by Dr Stephanie Chang.

Moreover, Chang performed a completely robotic single lung transplant, which was the country’s first, just a month before.

“This latest innovation is a watershed moment in lung transplantation surgery worldwide and just the beginning of a new era in patient care,” said Dr Ralph Mosca, who is a chair of cardiothoracic surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, in New York City.

For performing the minimally invasive transplants, Chang and her team use a da Vinci Xi robot.

Between the ribs, they make small incisions, then use the robot to remove and replace the damaged lungs.

Four days after patient Cheryl Mehrkar was added to the transplant list after months of careful evaluation, the groundbreaking double transplant was performed on October 22.

“For a long time, I was told I wasn’t sick enough for a transplant,” she recalled in an NYU news release.

“I’m so grateful to the donor and their family for giving me another chance at life,” Mehrkar added. “And I’m so grateful to the doctors and nurses here for giving me hope.”