A Father’s Gift, A World First: Six-Year-Old Becomes First Patient to Receive a Liver Transplant Through a Single Robotic Incision

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomeGlobeNewswireThis section is The content in this section is supplied by GlobeNewswire for the purposes of distributing press releases on behalf of its clients. Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire A Father's Gift, A World First: Six-Year-Old Becomes First Patient to Receive a Liver Transplant Through a Single Robotic IncisionAuthor of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.After his father donated part of his liver to save him, KFSH successfully performed the world's first single-port robotic liver transplant on the six-year-old, who had suffered recurrent episodes of acute liver failure, marking a major advance in one of the most delicate and complex areas of paediatric organ transplantation. GNWRIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A father’s decision to give part of his liver to save his son has resulted in a global medical first. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH) has performed the world’s first liver transplant using a single-port robotic system, in a six-year-old boy who had suffered recurrent episodes of acute liver failure advancing minimally invasive robotic surgery into one of the most precise and complex fields of pediatric organ transplantation.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountThe transplant was made possible after the child’s father donated the left lobe of his liver, a decision that gave the family new hope after a long and anxious journey with their son’s illness. The procedure was completed successfully, with the child showing good early recovery, the liver graft functioning well, and no complications observed.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe patient had Wolcott-Rallison syndrome, a rare inherited disorder that causes early-onset diabetes and recurrent episodes of acute liver failure, placing him at repeated, life-threatening risk. The transplant addressed the most serious complication of the disease, offering him the chance at a more stable life while easing the medical and emotional burden on him and his family. He will continue to be followed for his underlying genetic condition and associated diabetes.A single-port robotic system allows surgeons to introduce precision surgical instruments and a high-definition 3D camera through one small incision, unlike conventional multi-port robotic surgery, which requires several access points. Working through this single port, surgeons carried out the most delicate stages of the transplant inside a small child’s body, a confined surgical field that demands extremely precise handling of blood vessels and bile ducts, helping to reduce surgical impact, ease pain, and shorten both recovery time and hospital stay.Prof. Dieter Broering, Executive Director of the Organ Transplant Center of Excellence and leader of the surgical team, said the success of this type of procedure depends not on the availability of technology alone, but on careful patient selection, meticulous surgical planning, and a team experienced in every stage of transplantation. He noted that the true value of surgical innovation lies in using technology to ease the burden on patients and their families, while upholding the highest standards of safety.This milestone builds on a pioneering path KFSH began in 2023 with the world’s first fully robotic liver transplant, which has since grown into an integrated programme with 165 cases performed to date, backed by more than 1,700 robotic living-donor liver resections. This accumulated expertise reflects KFSH’s ability to turn landmark achievements into advanced clinical programmes that change the course of entire families’ lives, expanding the use of robotics in highly complex transplant surgery and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position in medical innovation and healthcare excellence.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre has been ranked first in the Middle East and Africa and 12th globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers for 2026. It was also recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East for 2026 by Brand Finance, and listed by Newsweek among the World’s Best Hospitals, World’s Best Smart Hospitals, and World’s Best Specialized Hospitals for 2026.For more information, visit www.kfshrc.edu.sa or contact our media team at mediacoverage@kfshrc.edu.saNotice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.