Riyadh: The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) has successfully performed a robotic-assisted splenectomy and cholecystectomy for a 10-year-old girl with sickle cell disease who was suffering from severe enlargement of the spleen. The advanced procedure reduced surgical trauma while maintaining the highest standards of safety and precision.

According to Saudi Press Agency, this is the first procedure of its kind in the western region for treating such cases. Given the complexity, the team opted for robotic surgery, which provides 3D visualization and highly precise control, enabling the operation to be completed in a single session through small incisions. The four-arm robotic system offered finer handling of blood vessels and delicate tissues, helping reduce blood loss, improve surgical safety, and support a faster recovery.

In many similar cases, conventional treatment relies on open surgery or standard laparoscopy, and the spleen and gallbladder may be removed in two separate stages depending on the patient's condition. That can mean larger incisions, greater blood loss, more extended hospital stays, slower recovery, and higher risk, particularly for children with sickle cell disease. The robotic approach offered a more precise option, enabling both procedures to be combined in a single intervention.

The release added that the successful outcome was supported by close coordination among multidisciplinary teams, including pediatric surgeons, anesthesiologists, hematologists, and nursing staff, with careful monitoring before and after the operation.