Saudi Arabia’s KFSH&RC conducts first-ever fully robotic liver transplant

SAUDI ARABIA – In a momentous fete, a surgical team from King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has performed the world’s first fully robotic liver transplant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In an official statement, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre said that the recipient of this groundbreaking surgery was a 66-year-old male patient, with a history of non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The Organ Transplant Center of Excellence (OTCoE) team’s accomplishment in successfully executing the first-ever fully robotic liver transplant solidifies KFSH&RC’s global leadership in minimally invasive transplant surgery.

Commenting on this remarkable fete, Dr. Dieter Broering, Executive Director of the Organ Transplant Center of Excellence at KFSH&RC, stated: “At KFSH&RC, we reaffirm our commitment to pushing the boundaries of medical innovation and enhancing the quality of healthcare services offered to patients worldwide.”

KFSH&RC utilized state-of-the-art robotic technology to conduct both donor and recipient surgeries with precision and minimal invasiveness, eliminating the need for a hybrid approach.

It is the sole institution providing a fully robotic liver transplant surgery, distinguishing itself from other centers that offer minimally invasive transplants using hybrid techniques.

It is noteworthy that the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre has been officially acknowledged as a designated Training Center for robotic transplant surgery.

“Traditional liver transplantation, while life-saving, often involves major incisions and carries a high risk of complications. These surgeries can result in complications in up to 50% of cases and require extensive incisions, leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased patient discomfort,” noted Dr. Broering.

Not surprisingly, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre is one of the leading tertiary and quaternary healthcare providers in the Middle East.

The institution actively engages in partnerships with similar medical institutions to promote knowledge sharing and advance the global understanding of minimally invasive transplant procedures.

Hence, the successful implementation of fully robotic liver transplants by KFSH&RC’s Organ Transplant Center of Excellence marks a pivotal moment in the history of organ transplantation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It stands as a testimony to KFSH&RC’s mission to provide the highest level of specialized healthcare in an integrated educational and research setting.

The approach adopted by the OTCoE offers a transformative solution, providing patients with smaller incisions, reduced recovery times, and significantly lower rates of complications, including infections and surgical issues.

In alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, KFSH&RC is undertaking a Transformation towards a financially sustainable, independent, not-for-profit hospital.

KFSH&RC has been designated as the 20th leading healthcare institution globally and the foremost in the Middle East and Africa, according to the 2023 ranking by Brand Finance.

This ranking is a reflection of the hospital’s commitment to offering the best and latest healthcare services in an integrated educational and research environment.

In another remarkable achievement, KFSH&RC is leading four advanced research experiments in cell sciences in space, in cooperation with the Saudi Space Commission (SSC) aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

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