First Robotic Pediatric Surgery in Eastern Province

First Robotic Pediatric Surgery in Eastern Province

November 02, 2025

JHAH surgical team uses da Vinci robot to repair hiatal hernia in six-year-old boy suffering from severe acid reflux and chronic malnutrition.

The robotic surgery program at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare (JHAH) has reported another first-of-its kind for the Eastern Province after successfully completing its first pediatric case.

A JHAH surgical team performed robot-assisted hiatal hernia repair on a six-year-old boy who was suffering from chronic malnutrition, pain, and vomiting because of severe gastroesophageal reflux.

The boy has a history of complex congenital heart anomalies, has endured multiple open-heart surgeries, and is fitted with a pacemaker. He also suffers from factor VII deficiency, a rare blood disorder that can cause uncontrolled bleeding.

The boy recovered quickly from the hiatal hernia procedure and was discharged within four days. He can now eat pain-free without reflux, and is no longer vomiting.

“The outcome was excellent, and the boy is doing extremely well,” Dr. Akram Aljahdali, Chief of General and Pediatric Surgery, said. “His parents, who have been incredible throughout, were anxious to see their son undergo a procedure that alleviated his endless suffering. We are delighted that we obtained the best outcome we could have hoped for.”

Dr. Aljahdali said that JHAH will now expand its robotic surgery program to include pediatric patients.

The boy’s father, Abdulaziz, said that his son’s weight had been steadily declining before surgery. “He would vomit immediately after breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and his body was unable to benefit from the food he ate,” Abdulaziz said.

“As father, I was naturally afraid of the idea of surgery. However, with my son’s weight continuing to drop, I had no choice but to agree with the procedure. Looking back, I believe it was the right decision, and thankfully, it went well.”

Abdulaziz said that his son “began regaining weight within two weeks of the procedure and continues to show steady improvement,” adding: “Now, after going through this health crisis, I feel grateful to Allah. My son continues to improve both physically and emotionally, and the positive changes are very noticeable.”

Abdulaziz said he was “thankful to the entire medical team, surgeons, doctors, nurses and healthcare practitioners, for the care and attention they provided from the moment my son was admitted, throughout his treatment, and even after his discharge.”

The JHAH surgical team, which was led by Dr. Aljahdali, performed robot-assisted hiatal hernia repair with Nissen fundoplication and pyloroplasty using the da Vinci Xi robotic surgery platform. The procedure took three hours.

“Open surgery would have caused the boy significantly more pain than robotic surgery,” Dr. Aljahdali said. “Open surgery requires larger incisions, a longer recovery period, and creates a higher risk of complications. Further, the boy’s factor VII deficiency put him at high risk of bleeding. The minimally invasive robotic option was by far the best for him.”

The surgery was confirmed as the first robot-assisted pediatric surgery in the Eastern Province by Gulf Medical, the exclusive supplier of the da Vinci robot to healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Aljahdali said: “Robotic surgery is incredibly precise, even compared with laparoscopy. In a complex case such as this one, accuracy is the key to achieving a great outcome.”

He added: “We are proud to have conducted the first robotic pediatric procedure in the Eastern Province. The achievement highlights JHAH’s commitment to advancing surgical innovation and providing world-class care.”