A surgical medical team at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC), led by Thoracic and Esophageal Surgery Consultant Dr. Suha Kaaki, performed a surgical procedure under the "Remote Robotic Surgery" program for a patient who had suffered for years from chronic acid reflux symptoms—a condition that significantly impacts patients' quality of life if not appropriately treated.
The patient underwent remote robotic surgery involving hiatal hernia repair and reconstruction of the gastroesophageal valve. This precise surgical intervention aimed to restore the normal function of the valve and alleviate her chronic reflux. Performed in coordination between the Virtual Health Hospital and KSUMC, this achievement reflects the efficiency and sustainability of the program while reaffirming KSUMC's leadership in this vital field.
The significance of remote robotic surgery lies in its ability to overcome geographic barriers that traditionally prevented patients from accessing specialized surgical expertise. Through this technology, rare and advanced surgical expertise becomes accessible to patients across various regions of the Kingdom and beyond, without requiring the surgeon's physical presence at the same medical city or facility where the surgery takes place. This delivers high-quality surgical care to broader segments of patients, regardless of their location or distance from major medical centers.
The Medical City launched its ambitious Remote Robotic Surgery Program with sixteen operations spanning general surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, bariatric, colorectal, and thoracic surgeries.
This seventeenth operation culminates the success achieved by KSUMC in its relentless pursuit of leveraging its physicians' extensive robotic surgery expertise to serve patients.
KSUMC's position solidifies its presence as one of the region's leading centers in robotic surgery. This milestone serves as a practical model embodying the ambitions of digital and technological transformation within the Saudi health sector, where specialized medical expertise meets advanced technology to deliver more efficient and comprehensive healthcare.
KSUMC leadership emphasized that the continued expansion of this program aligns with a broader vision to provide rare surgical expertise to patients regardless of distance, further cementing the Kingdom's standing as a leading regional surgical hub.