King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC) in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) has performed the first implantation of two artificial pumps for biventricular support (BiVAD-HMIII) using robotic technology on a patient with advanced heart failure.
The procedure opens new horizons in circulatory support techniques for patients with complex cardiac conditions and marks a medical achievement that culminated in the patient’s recovery within a short period following the surgery, the organisation says in a press release issued following the procedure.
The treatment of bilateral heart failure is traditionally performed through full sternotomy, however the cardiac surgery team at KFSHRC led by Feras Khaliel, successfully performed the operation through small incisions using remotely controlled high-precision robotic arms. This, the press release adds, allows for reduced blood loss, lower risk of infection, and faster patient recovery.
The 61-year-old patient was admitted after spending over two months bedridden, suffering from end-stage heart failure unresponsive to medical therapy, in addition to multiple chronic conditions including diabetes, stroke, and renal impairment. After a comprehensive clinical evaluation, the patient was deemed ineligible for a heart transplant, making robotic implantation of the artificial pumps a vital and unique solution suited to his health status.
