[datensicherheit.de, 10|23|2025] In Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) has successfully performed the world’s first robot-assisted resection of an intracranial (i.e. inside the skull) tumour – a historic quantum leap for robot-assisted medicine, setting a new global standard for precision and recovery in neurosurgery.

photo: KFSHRC

KFSHRC surgeons perform world’s first robot-assisted resection of an intracranial tumour

KFSHRC was able to discharge the patient after just 24 hours

The procedure was performed on a 68-year-old patient who suffered from severe headaches and concentration problems. “A 4.5-centimetre brain tumour was removed with the help of robotic arms.“

• The patient was discharged after just 24 hours, fully conscious – a recovery time almost four times faster than with conventional neurosurgical procedures.

According to the clinic’s management, this robot-assisted tumour resection helped to minimise the trauma of the operation and speed up recovery.

One-hour operation at KFSHRC using robotic arms controlled by an optical 3D system

According to the surgeon, Dr Homoud Aldahash, KFSHRC specialist in skull base tumours, the robotic system enabled outstanding precision and control, allowing surgeons to navigate critical neurovascular structures with a high degree of safety.

• “The fact that the patient was able to be discharged on the same day, fully conscious and without complications, represents a new innovative benchmark in neurosurgery,“ Aldahash emphasises.

The one-hour operation involved the use of robotic arms controlled by an optical 3D system, which provided the surgeons with a clear and magnified view of the brain. The use of advanced image-guided navigation technology ensured the precise removal of the tumour while sparing vital areas of the brain.

Innovation and patient-centred care to shape the future of healthcare

KFSHRC CEO Dr Majid Alfayyadh linked this milestone to the hospital’s current development trajectory: “This achievement reflects the growing importance of the KFSHRC in shaping the future of global medicine.“

• This is perfectly in line with its vision that innovation and patient-centred care will determine the future of healthcare.

Until the introduction of robot-assisted neurosurgery, similar procedures had to be performed manually under a surgical microscope, where a steady hand and a keen eye were crucial for precision. Robot systems now offer improved instrument stability, tremor filtration and excellent visualisation, redefining global standards for safety and precision in neurosurgical care.

Another milestone in the KFSHRC success story in the field of robot-assisted surgery

This groundbreaking procedure is another milestone in the KFSHRC’s success story in the field of robot-assisted surgery. The centre has already performed the world’s first robot-assisted heart and liver transplants, earning the KFSHRC international recognition and cementing its position as one of the world’s leading centres for robot-assisted and minimally invasive surgery.

• With automation and precision-guided surgery finding their way into healthcare systems around the world, the KFSHRC’s latest success confirms that the centre has become a global pioneer in next-generation medical innovation.

The KFSHRC has been ranked as the best hospital in the Middle East and Africa and 15th among the 250 best academic medical centres worldwide in 2025. “It has also been named the most valuable healthcare brand in the Middle East by Brand Finance 2025 and listed by ‘Newsweek’ among the ‘World’s Best Hospitals 2025‘, ‘Best Smart Hospitals 2026‘ and ‘Best Specialised Hospitals 2026‘, reaffirming its position as a world-leading centre for innovation-driven patient care.“

Further information on this topic:

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
KFSH&RC is a leading healthcare, research, and education institution recognized throughout Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Established in 1975, the hospital is committed to providing world-class medical care and continuously advancing healthcare standards within the Kingdom.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
CEO Message / H.E. Dr. Majid Ibrahim Alfayyadh, MD, MMM

Linkedin
Homoud AlDahash / Consultant Neurosurgeon at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (Gen. Org.)

datensicherheit.de, 07|18|2025
Riad: Weltweit erste robotergestützte BiVAD-Implantation am KFSHRC durchgeführt / Minimalinvasive robotergestützte Chirurgie als lebensrettende Option für Hochrisikopatienten, welche sich keiner Transplantation oder herkömmlichen Operation am offenen Herzen unterziehen können

datensicherheit.de, 03|25|2025
China will 1 Billion Yuan in die Robotik- und Hightech-Industrie investieren / Chinas Volkskongress kündigt Risiko-Kapitalfonds an

datensicherheit.de, 02|21|2025
Aktionsplan Robotik für Europa: VDMA-Aufforderung an die Politik zur Stärkung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit / VDMA Robotik +Automation, die größte Netzwerkorganisation der Robotik-Industrie in Europa, ruft zum Handeln auf

[datensicherheit.de, 07|18|2025] The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh has announced that the world’s first implantation of two artificial biventricular assist devices (BiVAD-HMIII) using robotic technology has been successfully performed on a patient with advanced cardiac insufficiency. This pioneering procedure opens up new horizons in circulatory support for patients with complex heart disease and represents a medical achievement – which led to the patient’s recovery within a short period of time after the procedure.

photo: KFSHRC

A minimally invasive surgical procedure using robots offers a life-saving option for high-risk patients

Small cuts with remote-controlled, high-precision robot arms

This procedure brings major advances in the treatment of bilateral heart failure, which has traditionally been performed using a full Median sternotomy – a method associated with higher surgical risks and a longer recovery time.

“However, the cardiac surgery team at KFSHRC, led by Professor Feras Khaliel, successfully performed the operation through small incisions using remote-controlled, high-precision robotic arms.“ This reduced blood loss, lowered the risk of infection and led to a faster recovery for the patient.

Robot-assisted implantation of artificial pumps as the only solution

“The 61-year-old patient was admitted after being bedridden for over two months with end-stage heart failure that was not responding to drug therapy and also suffered from several chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke and kidney failure.“

After a comprehensive clinical examination, this patient was deemed “not suitable for a heart transplant“ and the robotic implantation of the artificial pumps was considered a vital and unique solution to his medical condition.

Results of this robot assisted OP to be communicated to the professional community

This milestone demonstrates the extensive expertise of the various KFSHRC departments, including cardiac surgery, cardiology, anaesthesia, intensive care, biomedical engineering and advanced life support. “The procedure was meticulously planned and benefited from 3D imaging technologies, real-time surgical navigation and innovative solutions to securely attach the mechanical support devices.“

The KFSHRC now intends to publish the results of this procedure in peer-reviewed medical journals and present them at cardiology conferences worldwide. The aim is to promote the exchange of knowledge and establish innovative partnerships with leading international centres in the field of robotic care and advanced treatment of heart failure.

KFSHRC – a success story in the field of robotic surgery

“This achievement is part of KFSHRC’s success story in the field of robotic surgery, which includes the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and the world’s first robot-assisted implantation of an artificial heart pump.“

With these milestones, the KFSHRC underlines its pioneering role in the introduction of state-of-the-art cardiac technologies and the treatment of critical diseases with the highest precision and safety standards, thus consolidating its position as a leading academic medical centre both in the region and worldwide.

KFSHRC one of the 250 best hospitals in the world

Notably, KFSHRC was ranked first in the Middle East and Africa for the second consecutive year and 20th in the world in the list of the 250 best academic medical centres in the world and was recognised as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East according to the Brand Finance Ranking 2024.

It was also listed as one of the 250 best hospitals in the world in the same year and was included in the “Newsweek“ Magazine’s “World’s Best Smart Hospitals list“ for 2025.

Further information on the topic:

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
KFSH&RC is a leading healthcare, research, and education institution recognized throughout Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Established in 1975, the hospital is committed to providing world-class medical care and continuously advancing healthcare standards within the Kingdom. / About Us

BDC Berufsverband der Deutschen Chirurgie e.V., J. F. Gummert & R. Schramm, 11|01|2021
Herzchirurgie / Herztransplantation und mechanische Kreislaufunterstützung – der aktuelle Stand

WIKIPEDIA
Median sternotomy

ResearchGate
Feras H Khaliel / MD, Ph.D.Chief Cardiac Surgery at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre

Brand Finance, January 2024
Global Top 250 Hospitals 2024

Newsweek, Alexis Kayser, 02|26|2025
World’s Best Hospitals 2025

datensicherheit.de, 03|25|2025
China will 1 Billion Yuan in die Robotik- und Hightech-Industrie investieren / Chinas Volkskongress kündigt Risiko-Kapitalfonds an

datensicherheit.de, 02|21|2025
Aktionsplan Robotik für Europa: VDMA-Aufforderung an die Politik zur Stärkung der Wettbewerbsfähigkeit / VDMA Robotik +Automation, die größte Netzwerkorganisation der Robotik-Industrie in Europa, ruft zum Handeln auf