KFSH Reduces Hospital Stay for Children After Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery by 44%

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH) in Riyadh has reduced the hospital stay of children undergoing surgery for congenital heart defects by 44% among patients eligible for minimally invasive procedures, with the average length of stay falling from nine days in conventional surgery to five days.

This reduction was achieved through KFSH’s minimally invasive pediatric congenital heart surgery program, launched in mid-2023. The approach enables surgeons to access the heart through a small incision between the ribs rather than dividing the breastbone, as in conventional open-heart surgery. The program has established KFSH as a regional leader in advanced minimally invasive surgery for children with congenital heart defects and the only center in the region performing minimally invasive procedures for left-sided congenital heart defects.

Dr. Hani Al-Sarjani, Executive Director of the Heart Centre of Excellence at KFSH, said the successful use of minimally invasive surgery in 54 pediatric congenital heart cases reflects the maturity of the program and its ability to manage highly delicate and complex conditions.

He noted that the approach reduces surgical impact on the chest wall, helping ease post-operative pain, support earlier breathing and movement, and accelerate recovery, while creating a less burdensome treatment experience for children and their families

Dr. Maryam Alomair, leading this program stated that minimally invasive heart surgery in children requires exceptional precision due to the small size of pediatric anatomy and the sensitivity of operating on the heart at an early age. It also depends on close coordination among cardiac surgery, anesthesia, and intensive care teams, particularly in very small patients. Among the cases treated was a three-month-old infant weighing just four kilograms.