According to the Saudi Press Agency, the world’s first entirely robotic heart transplant has been successfully accomplished at Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC). The patient, a 16-year-old with end-stage heart failure, underwent the innovative two and a half hour treatment.

Following weeks of rigorous preparation, the surgical team lead by Dr. Feras Khaliel, head of Cardiac Surgery and director of KFSHRC’s Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program, performed the procedure.

To lower risks and guarantee accuracy, the procedure needed thorough planning and rigorous preparation. Before conducting the actual surgery, the team practically performed the procedure seven times over the course of three days.

By using robotic technology, a less intrusive procedure was possible instead of opening the patient’s chest as was previously the case. This method greatly enhances the patient’s quality of life by speeding up healing, easing pain, and lowering the chance of problems.

CEO of the KFSHRC Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad praised the procedure, calling it a revolutionary advance in heart transplant surgery, which was initially introduced in the 1960s.

He underlined that the achievement is in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which places a high priority on healthcare innovation to improve people’s quality of life both domestically and internationally.

Dr. Al-Fayyad further acknowledged that this outstanding accomplishment was made possible by the Saudi leadership’s dedication to the advancement of healthcare.

KFSHRC continues to lead the way in medical innovation, educating teams around the globe to enhance the results of robotic organ transplantation.