RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center has made a remarkable leap in medical innovation by employing advanced robotic technology to perform transformative epilepsy surgery. This groundbreaking procedure, the first of its kind in the Middle East, utilized robotic assistance to implant electrodes into the brain of a patient battling refractory epilepsy.
The pioneering surgery involved a patient with long-term epilepsy, aiming to bring relief through a revolutionary approach. By utilizing a robotic system, the medical team achieved a minimally invasive technique, creating minute openings in the skull (approximately 2mm in size) to insert the electrodes. This precise method allowed for the accurate identification of epilepsy foci by measuring cerebral electrical activity.
Robotic System Offers Enhance Precision and Efficiency
In contrast to the traditional Leksell frame method, the robotic system offers enhanced precision and efficiency. It eliminates the need for time-consuming calculations and ensures accurate placement of holes, demonstrating its potential to redefine neurosurgery procedures. Beyond its precision, this innovative approach leads to improved patient well-being, faster recovery times, and reduced postoperative risks.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) report highlights that this milestone achievement underscores the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center’s unwavering commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies for elevated patient outcomes, experiences, and operational efficiency. Known for its distinguished neurosciences department, the hospital consistently delivers exceptional care to both adult and pediatric patients grappling with complex and refractory epilepsy cases.
Recent achievements by the hospital’s neurosciences department include the implantation of electrodes into the brain of an 11-year-old child and a historic brain hemispherectomy conducted on a 14-day-old infant. These groundbreaking feats showcase the hospital’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of medical science and providing patients with innovative solutions for their medical challenges.