KFSH&RC in Riyadh is Getting Ready to Start the Repair and Replacement of Heart Valves Using a Robot

General

08

May

King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) in Riyadh is gearing up to start the repair or replacement of heart valves through the da Vinci robotic surgery in the coming weeks. This is expected to mark a big advancement in cardiac surgery and help patients quickly recover post-surgery without needing a long recuperation period.

Dr. Mamdouh Alahmadi, deputy director of the Heart Centre at KFSH&RC-Riyadh, reported this during the Annual Honoring Ceremony of the Heart Centre, while making a presentation on the Heart Centre’s remarkable achievements of the 2017. The occasion was graced by the Chief Executive Officer of the General Organization of KFSH&RC-Riyadh, His Excellency Dr. Majid Alfayyadh.

Dr. Alahmadi informed that various nursing units, Cardiac Cath Lab (Invasive), Non-invasive Cardiology Lab, Heart Research Centre, Quality Assurance Cell, and medical and non-medical support departments, along with fellow doctors and associate consultants from the Heart Centre took part in the honoring ceremony.

The deputy director of the Heart Centre at KFSH&RC-Riyadh said that the hospital has performed 35 heart transplant operations, including 7 for children under the age of 14 years, during the year 2017 with a high success rate that is comparable to global heart centers. He further added that the Heart Centre in the hospital is among the top 10% of the world's heart centers in terms of the number of annual transplants. It is also the only center in the Middle East that performs heart transplantation for children.

Dr. Alahmadi revealed that the 2017 witnessed a 40% increase from 2016 in the use of artificial pumps, which act as a bridge for heart transplantation. A total of 14 artificial pumps have been implanted in critical cases who had no time to wait until the availability of a brain-dead donor. The same was performed by using the latest technology called HEARTMATE 3. He further mentioned that the youngest child to whom the artificial pump was transplanted was only 11 years old. The hospital is the only medical center in the Middle East that transplants artificial heart pumps to children under 14 years of age.

Dr. Alahmadi said that the Heart Centre has performed 20 successful laparoscopic heart surgeries. The centre has recently received recognition from the American Heart Association as the first overseas center for its cardiovascular disease treatment program.