In a pioneering achievement, Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center has performed the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant. The breakthrough surgery was carried out on a 16-year-old patient, marking a significant step forward in the field of medical robotics.

The complex procedure, which lasted 2.5 hours, was conducted by a team led by the hospital’s Head of Cardiac Surgery. Prior to the operation, the team undertook seven virtual rehearsals over three days to ensure precision and success.

The use of robotic technology enabled the surgery to be minimally invasive, avoiding the need for a traditional open-chest operation. This approach is expected to greatly reduce post-operative pain, speed up recovery, and minimize the risk of complications.

Saudi doctors have praised the technology for its potential to revolutionize heart transplant surgery, offering patients a faster, less painful recovery and improved long-term outcomes. This groundbreaking procedure is seen as a major advancement in the future of cardiac care