Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) in Jeddah has successfully performed a complete robotic surgery to remove a tumor in the head of the pancreas of a patient in his sixties.

The surgical procedure, for which the medical team relied entirely on a robot, included removing the head of the pancreas, part of the stomach, both the duodenum and the bile duct, and then reconnected the remaining organs together to allow food to pass through the digestive system.

The robot-assisted surgery relies on minimal surgical intervention. It was performed through small incisions in the abdomen, which reduces the recovery period and hospital stay, unlike the traditional procedure that requires making a large incision in the abdomen, which exposes the patient to symptoms of infection and increases the recovery period.

The medical team at the Jeddah KFSHRC said that the patient was an ideal candidate for performing the entire operation using a robot, given his good health despite his advanced age, and his previous non-abdominal surgery. They noted that robotic surgery is a medical option that enhances the accuracy and efficiency of the operation, but it remains an inappropriate option for all patients.

The medical team explained that implementing the advanced medical procedure required intensive cooperation between qualified multidisciplinary medical teams, including surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, radiology and intensive care teams, in addition to the availability of the latest medical equipment, to provide the best possible care for the patient, and reduce potential risks and complications.

It was a pioneering medical procedure that confirms KFSHRC’s commitment to medical innovation and providing the highest levels of care and the best experience for patients. This medical achievement paves the way for broader applications in the field of robotic surgery, to include a wider group of patients in order to enhance medical outcomes, patient experience and operational efficiency. It also confirms the center’s commitment to innovation in health practices, and providing medical solutions that go beyond the limits of traditional practices.

It is noteworthy that KFSHRC was ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 20th globally, for the second year in a row, among the list of the top 250 academic healthcare institutions around the world. It was ranked the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to "Brand Finance" for the year 2024, and in the same year it was ranked among the top 250 hospitals in the world by Newsweek magazine.