Doctor Vlad Brașoveanu from Moldova led a pioneering liver transplant in Romania
A medical first in Romania: doctors at the Fundeni Clinical Institute have performed the first robotic retrieval of a liver segment from a living donor. The procedure was part of a liver transplant performed on a 50-year-old patient, and the operation was led by Professor Vlad Brașoveanu, a native of the Republic of Moldova.
The patient was suffering from liver cancer resulting from cirrhosis caused by the hepatitis C virus. He received a portion of the liver from his wife, who served as a living donor.
According to doctors, living-donor transplantation is possible due to the liver's ability to regenerate. A donor can provide approximately 60–70% of the liver, and within a few months, both the donor's and the recipient's livers return to normal size.
In the case of this 50-year-old patient, the transplant allowed for the replacement of the entire diseased liver, including the tumor. Doctors state that a transplant from a deceased donor might have come too late.
Both spouses are now in good condition and under medical monitoring.
At the Fundeni Clinical Institute, the harvesting of liver segments from living donors has been performed laparoscopically since 2023. On this occasion, the procedure was carried out using a robotic approach—a first for Romania.
Surgeon Iulian Moșteanu performed the liver segment harvest, controlling the robotic instruments from a console. Professor Vlad Brașoveanu handled the implantation of the graft into the patient, while Dr. Dragoș Zamfirescu reconstructed the hepatic artery using microsurgery.
The entire procedure was coordinated by Professor Vlad Brașoveanu, MD, Director of the "Dan Setlacec" Center for General Surgery and Liver Transplantation at the Fundeni Clinical Institute.
The physician, originally from the Republic of Moldova, has been part of the transplant team since 1997, dating back to the first multi-organ retrievals. He coordinates the living-donor liver transplant program and, together with his team, performed the 1,000th transplant—also from a living donor—at the Fundeni Clinical Institute.
"I am delighted by the pace at which Romania is moving forward: despite systemic obstacles, people—working in extraordinary teams—manage to break through and drive progress to where it belongs, just like in the West, steadily narrowing the gap between the most civilized nations and ourselves," wrote Dr. Mihail Pautov, a surgeon in Romania, on social media.
He said living donors make a major altruistic gesture and that transplant teams still prioritise their safety.
Vlad Brașoveanu: The first living-donor liver transplant in the Republic of Moldova
We remind you that Vladislav Brașoveanu was awarded the honorary title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the "Nicolae Testemițanu" State University of Medicine and Pharmacy in 2016.
Furthermore, he participated directly in the first living-donor liver transplant in the Republic of Moldova.
In recognition of this contribution, Dr. Vladislav Brașoveanu was awarded the "Order of Labor Glory."
A year later, he also participated in performing the first deceased-donor liver transplant in the Republic of Moldova.
So far this year, surgeons in the Republic of Moldova have performed 12 organ transplants—six kidney and six liver. For comparison, the Transplant Agency reported 16 such transplants in 2025.
In 2025, 28 corneal transplants and about 400 tissue transplants were performed.
Last year, half of the families of brain-dead individuals refused organ retrieval for transplantation, even though over 100 patients in the Republic of Moldova are waiting for a compatible organ.
In Romania, over 300 organ and tissue transplants were performed during 2025, according to data compiled by the National Transplant Agency (ANT). This tally marks an all-time high and the best national result since the institution's establishment in 2016, with 92 organ donors recorded.
In Romania, over 300 organ and tissue transplants took place throughout 2025, according to data compiled by the National Transplant Agency (ANT). 2025 marked a record year and the best national performance since the ANT was founded in 2016, with 92 organ donors recorded nationwide.
