KFSHRC Sets New Global Standards in Robotic Surgery

Riyadh – King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) is breaking new ground in robotic surgery with record-setting achievements that are shaping the future of healthcare worldwide.

The hospital made history with the world’s first fully robotic liver transplant led by Prof. Dieter Broering and the first fully robotic heart transplant performed by Prof. Feras Khaliel. These landmark surgeries show how robotics is transforming highly complex procedures into safer, less invasive operations that allow patients to recover faster and return home sooner.

Patients who previously needed weeks in the hospital after major transplants are now discharged within days, experiencing fewer complications and a better quality of life.

KFSHRC has also achieved several regional firsts, including the Middle East’s first robotic abdominal lymph node dissection and the first robot-assisted stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG) intracranial electrode implantation for epilepsy surgery. These milestones highlight the hospital’s commitment to precision, safety, and innovation in patient care.

Looking ahead, the hospital plans to expand robotic surgery across all operating rooms, with the aim of making it the preferred option for complex procedures. This trend is already underway—robotic kidney transplants at KFSHRC Riyadh rose by 75.2% in 2024, reflecting both high patient demand and the hospital’s growing expertise.

KFSHRC’s leadership in robotics also supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, as the hospital invests in training future surgeons and sharing medical knowledge worldwide.

The hospital continues to earn global recognition, ranking first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th worldwide among the top 250 Academic Medical Centers for the second year in a row. It was also named the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the region by Brand Finance 2024, and listed among the World’s Best 250 Hospitals and World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2025 by Newsweek.