JEDDAH: The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah has performed a robotic-assisted bowel surgery on a young child.
The youngster, aged just 2 and weighing about 10 kg, was diagnosed with Hirschsprung’s disease, a congenital condition that affects normal bowel function and can lead to severe constipation and intestinal obstruction, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The medical team carried out a Soave pull-through procedure, which is complex in young children due to the limited pelvic space and the proximity of nerves, muscles and blood vessels involved in bowel function.
A high level of surgical precision is required to protect the surrounding tissues and support good outcomes, the centre said.
The Soave technique involves removing the affected section of the colon and connecting the healthy portion to restore bowel function. In this case, robotic assistance provided improved visualization and precision during the procedure.
