Abu Dhabi: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of the M42 group, in collaboration with a team of experts from Cleveland Clinic U.S, has achieved a significant milestone with its first simultaneous robotic kidney transplant procedure for a donor and recipient using one robot. The achievement is a testament to the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s (DoH) continuous efforts in the field of organ transplantation, integrating the use of science, technology and best practices further cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading healthcare destination globally.
The procedure involved a related UAE National donor and recipient, with the recipient diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. The complex surgery required extensive coordination between the donor surgical team and recipient transplant team. The team of surgeons performed the procedures simultaneously in separate operating rooms, with meticulous precision using a single robot. The robotic surgical system mimics the movements of the surgeons with a greater range of motion and finer control and takes command in real-time to carry out highly intricate procedures with matchless accuracy. The simultaneous robotic-kidney transplant offers numerous benefits. With precise movement, 3D vision, high magnification, and improved ergonomics surgeons can perform operations through smaller incisions compared to traditional open surgery. This minimally invasive approach results in, lesser blood loss, enhanced accuracy, reduced trauma, and faster recovery time.
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Dr. Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi, the Executive Director of the Healthcare Workforce Planning Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said: “The Abu Dhabi healthcare sector has made remarkable strides in ensuring the health and well-being of patients in the Emirate and beyond in line with the highest global standards. Today, we celebrate a key milestone in organ transplantation that was made possible by Abu Dhabi’s world-class infrastructure and the exceptional skills of its healthcare workforce. It is important initiatives and achievements like these that further cement the Emirate’s position as a leading global healthcare destination.”
Dr. George Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and an internationally renowned urology surgeon, led the pioneering procedure. Dr. Haber commented on this complex surgery stating: “Collaboration is at the heart of medical progress, and this milestone achievement exemplifies the power of teamwork in advancing healthcare. Our partnership with Cleveland Clinic in the U.S. underscores our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in transplant surgery and ensuring the world-class expertise is accessible to patients in Abu Dhabi and the region. We are proud to stand as one Cleveland Clinic in introducing cutting-edge innovations that ultimately improve patient outcomes and save lives.”
Looking ahead, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi aims to expand the application of robotic technology beyond kidney transplants. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is the first and the only multi-organ transplant facility in the UAE. Previously, the hospital conducted seven successful robotic-assisted donor surgeries. Initially developed for prostatectomies and kidney cancer procedures, the innovative approach has been adapted for kidney transplant patients with the primary objective of minimizing incision size and post-surgery discomfort.
