Robotic Liver Transplant - Global First

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) has achieved a groundbreaking medical milestone by successfully performing the world’s first fully robotic liver transplant using organs from living donors. This historic robotic liver transplant procedure, conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, represents a significant advancement in transplant surgery and demonstrates the hospital’s leadership in medical innovation.

The procedure is part of KFSHRC’s advanced robotic liver transplant program, which has now exceeded 100 robotic liver transplant surgeries. This particular case marks a world first, as the patient required two left liver lobes from two related living donors to ensure sufficient liver volume for the recipient, while maintaining safe residual liver volume for each donor.

Revolutionary Surgical Approach

The achievement demonstrates KFSHRC’s ability to deliver highly personalized treatment through a fully robotic pathway that includes both donor surgeries and the transplant itself. This innovative approach expands the scope of what can be safely achieved in living-donor liver transplantation, while maintaining the highest standards of donor safety throughout the entire process.

Successful Outcomes for All Patients

The surgery was completed successfully with no complications reported for either the donors or the recipient. Both donors were discharged from the hospital on the third day after surgery, demonstrating the minimally invasive benefits of robotic surgery. The patient was transferred out of intensive care after seven days and completed the required inpatient recovery under medical supervision.

Expert Perspective on Medical Innovation

“The procedure reflects the gradual expansion of robotic surgery in liver transplantation, supported by years of accumulated expertise. Advanced technologies are used to enhance surgical safety, accelerate recovery, and improve long-term quality of life, while ensuring strict protection of donor safety at every stage of care.”
Professor Dieter Broering, Executive Director of Organ Transplantation

KFSHRC’s Global Recognition

KFSHRC ranks first in the Middle East and Africa and fifteenth globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers for 2025. The hospital also holds the highest valued healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the region, according to Brand Finance 2024, and is listed by Newsweek among the World’s Best Hospitals 2025, the World’s Best Smart Hospitals 2026, and the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.

This groundbreaking achievement positions Saudi Arabia at the forefront of medical innovation and demonstrates the kingdom’s commitment to advancing healthcare through cutting-edge technology and world-class medical expertise.