UAE– Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a member of the M42 group, has made medical history by successfully performing the first simultaneous robotic kidney transplant for a donor and recipient using a single robot.

This innovative procedure demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to advancing complex medical treatments through technological innovation and multidisciplinary expertise.

The milestone surgery, conducted by a team of world-renowned surgeons, involved a related UAE national donor and recipient, both suffering from end-stage renal failure.

The complexity of the procedure required meticulous coordination between the donor’s surgical team and the recipient’s transplant team.

The teams utilized a state-of-the-art robotic surgical system, performing the procedures concurrently in separate operating rooms with exceptional precision.

 The robotic technology, which replicates surgeons’ movements with enhanced range of motion and control, enabled exceedingly delicate surgeries to be carried out with minimal invasiveness.

This simultaneous robotic kidney transplant offers numerous advantages, including precise movement, 3D vision, high magnification, and improved ergonomics.

These features allow surgeons to operate through smaller incisions compared to traditional open surgery, resulting in less blood loss, enhanced accuracy, reduced trauma, and faster recovery times.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) praised the milestone as a significant step forward in organ transplantation, made possible by Abu Dhabi’s world-class infrastructure and the exceptional skills of its healthcare workforce.

Dr. Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi, Executive Director of the Healthcare Workforce Planning Sector at the DoH, praised the milestone as a significant advancement in organ transplantation, made possible by Abu Dhabi’s world-class infrastructure and the exceptional skills of its healthcare workforce.

He emphasized that such achievements reinforce Abu Dhabi’s premier global healthcare destination status.

Dr. George Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and an internationally renowned urology surgeon, led the pioneering procedure, whereby highlighted the importance of collaboration in advancing medical progress and emphasized that this achievement exemplifies the power of teamwork in pushing the boundaries of transplant surgery.

Dr. Haber also noted that the partnership with Cleveland Clinic in the U.S. highlights their shared commitment to innovation, ensuring that world-class expertise is accessible to patients in Abu Dhabi and the broader region.

Dr Bashir Sankari, Institute Chair of Urology at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, provided insights into the meticulous planning and innovative methodology that enabled this milestone, emphasising the transformative potential of robotic surgery in improving patient outcomes.

Dr. Sankari explained that the decision to use the same robot for both the donor and recipient in a single procedure stemmed from the recognized benefits of robotic surgeries.

Having previously utilized the technology for both donors and recipients separately, the team concluded that simultaneous use could further enhance outcomes.

He added that Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s first and only multi-organ transplant facility, consistently upgrading its treatment approaches to better serve patients within and beyond the UAE.

With ongoing collaboration with Cleveland Clinic U.S., Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is progressively developing its capabilities to conduct these complex surgeries independently.

Dr. Mohamed Eltemamy, Staff Physician at the Department of Urology at Cleveland Clinic in the U.S., highlighted the power of collaboration between Cleveland Clinic and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in bringing cutting-edge technology to the Gulf region.

He emphasized that the teams have worked tirelessly to ensure that both recipients and donors receive the highest standard of care.

The hospital aims to expand the application of robotic technology beyond kidney transplants, exploring the potential for robotic liver transplants and other advanced procedures.

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