King Abdulaziz University Hospital Advances Surgical Innovation in Line with Saudi Vision 2030

King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) has achieved a significant milestone by completing more than 1,000 successful robotic surgeries, reinforcing its position as a national and regional leader in advanced surgical care and aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 for healthcare transformation.

According to Professor Raed Anwar Azhar, Chair of the Robotic Surgery Committee at KAUH, the surgeries performed were both complex and high-precision, spanning multiple specialties. The hospital’s robotic program has expanded rapidly to include urology (its most active field), gynecology, general surgery, thoracic surgery, and most recently, cardiac surgery.

“Many of these procedures were performed for the first time in Saudi Arabia and the broader region,” said Prof. Azhar. “This includes reconstructive ureter surgeries, complex renal vascular operations, and hepatopancreatobiliary procedures led by Professor Murad Aljiffry and other distinguished faculty.”

KAUH is among the earliest adopters of robotic surgical systems in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The hospital performed its first robotic surgery in April 2007 using the da Vinci Standard system, and later introduced the da Vinci X platform in 2018, significantly increasing its capacity and scope of procedures.

Prof. Azhar emphasized that robotic surgery at KAUH is built on evidence-based practice, aimed at achieving the best possible clinical outcomes while using technology responsibly and effectively. The robotic system, fully controlled by the surgeon, offers 3D high-definition visualization with 10x magnification, eliminates hand tremors, and allows instruments to rotate 360 degrees, enabling unparalleled access to anatomically complex regions.

“For patients, this means less pain, minimal blood loss, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results,” Azhar noted.

Prof. Azhar also credited the program’s success to a fully integrated surgical team, highlighting the essential roles played by anesthesiologists, operating room staff, trained surgical nurses, and biomedical engineers in maintaining the continuous operational readiness of the system.

Looking ahead, KAUH is pursuing a dual-track expansion strategy:

1. Increasing surgical capacity by acquiring additional robotic systems.

2. Training the next generation of surgeons through specialized fellowship programs, establishing KAUH as a national reference center for robotic surgical education.

KAUH aims to make robotic surgery the first-line option for eligible clinical cases and is actively exploring the future of remote robotic operations (tele-surgery) as part of its broader digital transformation goals.