Riyadh and Hail served as the primary locations for 11 consecutive remote robotic surgical operations conducted by the Seha Virtual Hospital across advanced specialties.
According to SPA, a surgical team based in Riyadh performed these interventions on patients in Hail and other sites within the capital using an expanding integrated network that covers several regions of the Kingdom, including peripheral areas.
The procedures included a right lower lobe lung ablation, which is the second of its kind performed remotely in the world and the fifth globally for remote lung resections. Other surgeries included pelvic exploration, hysterectomy, hernia repair, and sleeve gastrectomies.
These operations were part of the Saudi protocol for remote surgical operations launched by Seha Virtual Hospital as a national reference framework to regulate robotic interventions. The robotic surgery systems used in the project received approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).
The project aims to transfer medical expertise between regions and provide patients with access to specialized skills in line with the health sector transformation program and Saudi Vision 2030.
What specific types of surgeries were performed remotely by Seha Virtual Hospital? The surgical team performed 11 consecutive remote robotic operations. These included a right lower lobe lung ablation, which ranks as the second remote procedure of its kind globally and the fifth worldwide for remote lung resections. Additionally, the hospital conducted sleeve gastrectomies, hysterectomies, hernia repairs, and pelvic explorations.
Where were the patients and surgical teams located during these procedures? The surgical team was based in Riyadh, while the patients receiving care were located in Hail and other sites within the capital. These interventions were made possible through an expanding integrated network that reaches several regions of the Kingdom, including peripheral areas.
What regulatory framework and approvals governed these robotic surgeries? The operations were conducted under the Saudi protocol for remote surgical operations, which was launched by Seha Virtual Hospital as a national reference framework for quality and safety. Furthermore, the robotic surgery systems utilized in the project were approved by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).