Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has achieved a global milestone by successfully performing the world’s first robotic heart transplant on a 16-year-old with end-stage heart failure.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, this achievement at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Riyadh followed overcoming numerous medical complexities associated with the transplant process.
The two-and-a-half-hour transplant was carried out by a team of experts under the guidance of renowned Saudi heart surgeon Dr. Faris Khalil, after weeks of rigorous preparation.
The procedure began with detailed planning to ensure accuracy and minimize potential risks.
The team then accessed the patient’s heart using a special technique, performing the transplant without opening the chest.
To execute the procedure effectively, the team conducted virtual surgeries seven times over three days before the actual transplant.
After receiving approval from the hospital’s medical committee and the patient’s family, Dr. Faris Khalil selected a team and provided a detailed briefing on the surgery, defining each member’s role.