Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital – Jeddah has achieved another milestone in advanced robotic surgery following the successful completion of an Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, involving the removal of the esophagus and upper part of the stomach, using the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system.
The procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary surgical team led by Dr. Muteb Alzaidi, Consultant in Thoracic and gastroesophageal Surgery.
The surgery was performed on a 70-year-old patient with multiple chronic conditions who had been diagnosed with cancer at the gastroesophageal junction, where the esophagus meets the stomach. The Ivor Lewis procedure is considered a complex major surgery performed in two stages at same operation, involving both the abdomen and right chest, requiring a high level of surgical precision and close coordination among multiple medical specialties.
During the first stage, the surgical team operated robotically through the abdomen, mobilizing the stomach, removing its upper portion, and preparing the remaining part for reconstruction of the digestive tract. The surrounding lymph nodes were also removed.
The patient was then repositioned to allow the second stage to be completed robotically through the right side of the chest. This stage involved carefully mobilizing the esophagus from the surrounding tissues and vital structures, removing additional lymph nodes, bringing the prepared stomach into the chest, and creating a new connection between the upper esophagus and stomach within the thoracic cavity.
Following this major surgery, the patient made good progress in recovery and was able to leave the hospital and return home in good health within just one week of the procedure.
This successful case represents an important milestone in the development of the Robotic Thoracic Surgery Program at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital – Jeddah, as well as a significant step toward expanding the use of robotic technology in thoracic, esophageal, and gastric surgeries.
According to the da Vinci database, this case is considered the second robotic esophagectomy with gastric pull-up performed in the private healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia.
The surgical team, led by Dr. Muteb Alzaidi, also included Dr. Ihab Munshi, who served as the main surgical assistant throughout the different stages of the procedure, and Dr. Abdulrahman Nabil, who contributed to the patient’s care and post-operative follow-up.
The successful outcome was also supported by the anesthesia, nursing, critical care, and allied healthcare teams, reflecting the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration throughout the patient’s treatment journey.
This achievement demonstrates what can be accomplished by combining specialized medical expertise, advanced surgical technology, and multidisciplinary teamwork, supporting the continued development of the robotic surgery program at Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital – Jeddah and expanding access to advanced surgical options for such complex cases.
