Rajavithi Hospital has completed the country's first robotic heart surgery, marking a major advance in minimally invasive cardiac care.
Dr Nutthapong Wongwiwat, director-general of the Department of Medical Services of Public Health Ministry, said the initiative aims to boost high-precision treatment, reduce complications, and establish Thailand as a medical hub.
"The use of robotic technology for heart surgery on two patients marks the first such procedures by the Ministry of Public Health. Both surgeries were successfully completed," he said.
One patient underwent robotic procedures for a congenital atrial septal defect and the other for severe mitral valve stenosis. Both recovered swiftly, discharged within two and four days, and showed no complications, he said.
Dr Wittawat Pibul, Head of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery at Rajavithi Hospital, said the surgeries build on previous robotic lung operations, with over 60 procedures performed between 2023 and 2025.
The hospital also received guidance from Asst Prof Cheng-Hon Yap of University Hospital Geelong in Australia, an expert in minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery, he said.
Dr Wiphut Kocharunjitt, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Rajavithi Hospital, said the robotic system enabled high-precision operations through small incisions, minimising tissue damage, blood loss, and recovery time.
The success sets the foundation for a national centre of excellence in robotic cardiac surgery and will expand access to advanced procedures for patients across Thailand, says the Public Health Ministry.
The hospital plans to increase robotic heart surgeries, offering patients an alternative to conventional surgery.
