King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH) has performed the world’s first series of single-port robotic liver resections from living donors, marking a significant step forward in organ transplantation surgery. The procedures were carried out through a single incision of no more than 3.5 cm, replacing the multiple incisions required in conventional robotic surgery.
The reduced incision size lowers surgical pain and speeds up recovery while maintaining high safety standards. Six donors underwent the procedure with minimal blood loss, no reported complications, low pain levels, and discharge within two to three days.
What Makes Single-Port Robotic Liver Surgery Different
Traditional robotic liver surgery requires multiple incisions across the abdomen. The single-port approach consolidates all surgical instruments through one small entry point, reducing physical trauma to the donor. This distinction matters especially because living donors are healthy individuals accepting surgical risk for the benefit of a recipient.
Benefits for Pediatric Transplant Recipients
The technique is particularly suited to pediatric transplants, which typically use the left lateral segment of the liver. That segment accounts for roughly 20% of total liver volume, making it well matched to single-port access. Smaller resection requirements reduce the surgical burden on the donor considerably.
KFSH’s Record in Robotic Transplant Surgery
Prof. Dieter Broering, Executive Director of the Organ Transplant Center of Excellence at KFSH, said the achievement reflects a structured expansion of robotic surgery built on extensive clinical experience. He noted that KFSH has performed more than 1,600 robotic living donor liver resections, the highest volume recorded globally.
“The development reflects a structured expansion of robotic liver surgery built on extensive experience, supported by a progressive model integrating training, simulation, and phased clinical implementation.”
Prof. Dieter Broering, Executive Director, Organ Transplant Center of Excellence, KFSH
The hospital’s program combines surgical training, simulation tools, and phased clinical rollout to scale procedures safely. This model has positioned KFSH as the highest-volume center for this type of surgery worldwide.
Hospital Rankings and Recognition
KFSH ranks first in the Middle East and North Africa and 12th globally among the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centers in 2026. Brand Finance 2025 named it the most valuable healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Newsweek also listed the hospital among the World’s Best Hospitals 2026, World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026, and World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.
The hospital said the milestone aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Health Sector Transformation Program, which forms part of the broader goals under Vision 2030. KFSH stated that the program supports care models that balance surgical progress with patient and donor safety.
