In a groundbreaking achievement, a medical team from Riyadh’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) successfully performed the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant on a 16-year-old patient with end-stage heart failure in September 2024.
On Wednesday, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman met with the KFSHRC team to celebrate their accomplishment. Led by renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Feras Khaliel, Head of Cardiac Surgery and Director of the Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program at KFSHRC, the team conducted the two-and-a-half-hour transplant procedure after extensive preparation.
The Crown Prince expressed his admiration for the team’s expertise and innovation, highlighting the procedure as a milestone for Saudi Arabia in advancing global medical capabilities and human health. He also congratulated Chairman of the KFSHRC Board Mazen Al-Rumaih, CEO Dr. Majed Al-Fayyadh, and Deputy CEO Dr. Björn Zoega, who attended the reception.
Dr. Khaliel and his team expressed their gratitude for the Crown Prince’s support, acknowledging that this recognition serves as motivation to pursue further achievements. Dr. Khaliel emphasized that the encounter with the Crown Prince inspires them to continue their contributions to humanity and the nation’s healthcare advancement.
