When Robotics Saves the Heart: A World First in Riyadh

KFSHRC

The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh has written a new chapter in the history of cardiac medicine by successfully performing the world’s first implantation of two artificial heart pumps for biventricular support (BiVAD-HMIII) using robotic technology. This groundbreaking advancement marks a major milestone in circulatory support techniques for patients with complex heart conditions and enabled the patient to recover rapidly following surgery.

A Breakthrough in the Treatment of Bilateral Heart Failure

Traditionally, treating bilateral heart failure requires a full sternotomy—an invasive procedure associated with high surgical risk and prolonged recovery time. Under the leadership of Professor Feras Khaliel, Head of Cardiac Surgery, the KFSHRC team overcame these challenges by performing the procedure through small incisions using high-precision robotic arms controlled remotely.

This minimally invasive approach significantly reduced blood loss, infection risk, and accelerated the patient’s recovery.

The recipient of this pioneering procedure is a 61-year-old patient who had been bedridden for over two months, suffering from end-stage heart failure unresponsive to medical treatment. The patient also had chronic conditions such as diabetes, the aftereffects of a stroke, and kidney failure. After an extensive clinical evaluation, he was deemed ineligible for a heart transplant, making the robotic implantation of the pumps the only viable and suitable therapeutic option.

This achievement is the result of close collaboration between multiple departments at KFSHRC, including cardiac surgery, cardiology, anesthesia, intensive care, biomedical engineering, and advanced life support. The procedure was meticulously planned using 3D imaging, real-time surgical navigation, and innovative solutions to ensure the safe implantation of the mechanical circulatory support devices.

Sharing Knowledge and Expanding Global Impact

KFSHRC now intends to publish the results of this procedure in international medical journals and present them at global cardiology conferences, aiming to promote knowledge sharing and establish partnerships with international centers of excellence in robotic surgery and advanced heart failure care.

This achievement adds to a growing list of world-firsts by KFSHRC, including the first fully robotic heart transplant and the first robot-assisted implantation of an artificial heart pump. These milestones highlight the hospital’s leadership in adopting cutting-edge technologies, its commitment to safety and precision in care, and its ambition to position itself as a leading academic medical center both regionally and globally.

Caroline Haïat