RIYADH: The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh has performed a liver lobe transplant on an eight-year-old child using an advanced robotic surgical system, with the patient being discharged after just two weeks.

Although the procedure was complicated due to the child’s small size and limited space for surgical access, the center’s experience with robotic organ transplants in adults enabled the technology to be adapted.

A tailored surgical plan was developed, which involved repositioning the robotic entry points, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Prof. Dieter Broering, executive director of the Organ Transplant Centre of Excellence and lead surgeon, said: “Robotic surgical techniques have traditionally been limited to adults, but we succeeded in adapting them for children, offering exceptional precision and a marked reduction in complications.

“The transplant required redesigning the surgical approach to suit the child’s small body and confined space, which we addressed by meticulously adjusting the entry sites for the robotic tools to ensure maximum safety.”

The operation sets a groundbreaking example for expanding the use of robotic surgery in pediatric care. The technology offers precise control, reduces complications and enhances safety, paving the way for the future development of child-specific robotic surgical systems.

It is the latest milestone that positions King Faisal Centre as a global leader in robotic surgery. The hospital has previously carried out the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and the first robotic liver transplant.