KFSHRC's Robotic Liver Surgery Saves Child's Life

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh successfully performed a liver lobe transplant on an eight-year-old child using an advanced robotic surgical system, allowing the child to be discharged from the hospital just two weeks later.
 According to a KFSHRC press release, the child’s condition required urgent intervention, complicated by the small body size and the limited space available for surgical access. However, KFSHRC’s extensive experience with robotic organ transplants in adults paved the way for adapting the technology to a pediatric case. A tailored surgical plan was developed, involving precise repositioning of the robotic instrument entry points to accommodate the child’s anatomy.
 Executive Director of the Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence Prof. Dieter Broering, lead surgeon on the case, stated: "Robotic surgical techniques have traditionally been limited to adults, but we succeeded in adapting them for children, offering exceptional precision and a marked reduction in complications. The transplant required redesigning the surgical approach to suit the child’s small body and confined space, which we addressed by meticulously adjusting the entry sites for the robotic tools to ensure maximum safety."
 The release added that this operation represents a ground-breaking model for expanding the use of robotic surgery in pediatric care. The technology offers highly precise control, reduces surgical complications, and enhances overall safety, paving the way for the future development of child-specific robotic surgical systems.
 This achievement is part of a series of milestones that position KFSHRC as a global leader in robotic surgery. The hospital previously performed the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and the world’s first robotic liver transplant. These breakthroughs reflect KFSHRC’s commitment to pioneering innovative medical solutions and providing world-class specialized healthcare.