Aga Khan University Hospital performs region’s first robotic-assisted gallbladder surgery

KENYA—Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH,N) has performed the region’s first robotic-assisted gallbladder removal surgery, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of advanced minimally invasive surgical care in Kenya.

The procedure, medically known as robotic-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy, combines surgical expertise with robotic technology to enhance precision, visualisation and control during an operation.

Unlike conventional open surgery, the technique allows surgeons to perform the procedure through small incisions using specialised instruments controlled from a surgical console.

Enhanced precision and visualisation

Dr Abdulkarim Abdalla, Chair of the Hospital’s Department of Surgery, said robotic-assisted surgery builds on the established benefits of conventional keyhole surgery while giving surgeons greater control over surgical instruments.

According to Abdalla, the technology provides a three-dimensional view of the surgical field, allowing surgeons to see anatomical structures more clearly during the procedure.

It also gives them greater flexibility when operating in areas that can be difficult to access or visualise using conventional laparoscopic techniques.

The robotic system does not operate independently. Instead, surgeons control the camera and instruments from a specialised console, directing every movement throughout the procedure.

“Robotic-assisted surgery builds on the benefits of conventional keyhole surgery by providing surgeons with a three-dimensional view of the surgical field, greater flexibility of movement, and improved access to areas that can be difficult to visualise using traditional techniques,” Abdalla said.

The robotic instruments also offer a wider range of movement and closely replicate the movements of the human hand.

As a result, surgeons can perform delicate surgical tasks with greater precision and control.

Potential benefits for patients

Robotic-assisted surgery retains many of the benefits associated with minimally invasive procedures.

These include smaller surgical incisions, reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery compared with traditional open surgery.

The technology may also improve the surgeon’s working environment.

Because surgeons operate while seated at a specialised console, the system can potentially reduce physical fatigue during lengthy procedures.

At the same time, enhanced visualisation and instrument flexibility can support more complex surgical tasks.

The successful procedure demonstrates the hospital’s growing use of advanced surgical technologies to expand minimally invasive treatment options for patients in Kenya and the wider region.

Expanding surgical innovation

Rashid Khalani, Chief Executive Officer of AKUH,N, said the milestone builds on the hospital’s history of introducing new healthcare technologies and services in Kenya and across the region.

“Since our inception, Aga Khan University Hospital has built a tradition of introducing many healthcare firsts for Kenya and the region,” Khalani said. “This latest milestone continues that legacy. We invest in innovation because it enables safer, precise and evidence-based care for our patients.”

He added that the hospital plans to expand access to robotic-assisted surgery while strengthening surgical excellence, research and training across the region.

The initiative is expected to support the development of specialised surgical expertise and provide additional opportunities for clinicians to gain experience with advanced robotic technologies.

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