The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) has successfully performed a robotic-assisted splenectomy and cholecystectomy on a 10-year-old girl with sickle cell disease who was experiencing severe splenic enlargement. The advanced procedure minimized surgical trauma while ensuring the highest levels of safety and precision.
In a press release issued today, KFSHRC confirmed that this is the first time such a procedure has been carried out in the western region for patients with this condition. Due to the case’s complexity, the medical team selected a robotic approach, which offers three-dimensional visualization and exceptional surgical control. This allowed both procedures to be completed in a single session using small incisions.
The four-arm robotic system enabled precise handling of blood vessels and delicate tissues, significantly reducing blood loss, enhancing surgical safety, and promoting faster recovery. In comparable cases, patients typically undergo open surgery or standard laparoscopy, often requiring the spleen and gallbladder to be removed in separate operations. Such approaches can involve larger incisions, longer hospital stays, increased blood loss, and higher risks—particularly for children with sickle cell disease.
By contrast, the robotic technique provided a safer and more efficient alternative, allowing both procedures to be performed simultaneously. The hospital noted that the successful outcome was achieved through close collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, including pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists, hematologists, and nursing staff, along with meticulous pre- and post-operative monitoring.
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