A precise robotic surgery at the Specialized Hospital saves a child suffering from sickle cell anemia
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre has achieved another medical milestone, adding to its long list of successes. Medical teams successfully performed a delicate and complex surgical procedure on a 10-year-old girl suffering from advanced complications of sickle cell anemia. The surgery involved the simultaneous removal of the spleen and gallbladder using advanced robotic surgical techniques, a procedure that is the first of its kind in the Western Region for this age group and medical condition.
Details of the advanced medical procedure
The child suffered from severe splenomegaly, a common and serious complication of sickle cell anemia, necessitating urgent surgical intervention. Instead of resorting to traditional open surgery, the medical team decided to use an advanced robotic system equipped with four surgical arms. This technology provided the surgeons with high-definition 3D visualization and extremely precise control over delicate tissues and blood vessels, enabling them to perform both procedures through very small incisions.
The context of the disease and the challenges of sickle cell anemia
Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disease prevalent in some regions. The breakdown and deformation of red blood cells cause blockages in blood vessels and blood pooling in the spleen, leading to its enlargement and loss of immune function, and ultimately becoming a life-threatening condition. Traditionally, splenectomy and gallbladder removal are performed through open surgery or in two separate stages to avoid complications, resulting in longer hospital stays and greater patient pain. However, the robotic technology employed by Al-Takhassusi Hospital overcomes these obstacles, combining the two procedures into a single, safe intervention.
The importance of achievement and its medical impact
The significance of this achievement lies in its unprecedented safety standards; the robot's precision significantly reduced blood loss, accelerated recovery, and shortened the child's hospital stay. This success reflects the effective collaboration between various medical professionals, including pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists, hematologists, and qualified nursing staff.
Global and local leadership
This initiative further solidifies King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre's position as a leading destination for complex and delicate surgeries. This success underscores the hospital's well-deserved global rankings, having been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 15th globally among the top 250 academic healthcare institutions for 2025, in addition to being the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East. This development contributes to the transfer of clinical expertise and the promotion of medical tourism, aligning with the Kingdom's healthcare transformation goals to provide care comparable to the world's finest centers.
