King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Saudi Arabia has successfully carried out the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The innovative procedure, which lasted two and a half hours, was performed on a 16-year-old patient with end-stage heart failure.
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The surgery, led by Dr. Feras Khaliel, head of Cardiac Surgery and director of the Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program at KFSHRC, followed weeks of meticulous preparation.
The procedure involved meticulous planning and extensive preparation to minimize risks and ensure accuracy. The team simulated the operation virtually seven times over three days before performing it in reality.
The robotic technology enabled a minimally invasive approach, eliminating the need for traditional chest opening. This method reduces recovery time, alleviates pain, and lowers the risk of complications, thereby enhancing the patient’s quality of life.
Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad, CEO of KFSHRC, described the surgery as a significant advancement in heart transplant procedures, which have been evolving since the 1960s. He highlighted that this achievement supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which focuses on healthcare innovation to improve quality of life locally and globally.
Dr. Al-Fayyad also acknowledged the Saudi leadership’s dedication to healthcare advancement, which made this milestone possible. KFSHRC continues to lead in medical innovation and trains global teams to enhance robotic organ transplant outcomes.
