Medcare Hospital Sharjah performs UAE’s first balloon pulmonary angioplasty

UAE—Medcare Hospital Sharjah has successfully performed the UAE’s first advanced Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty (BPA) for pulmonary hypertension, giving new hope to patients living with Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH).

The minimally invasive procedure was carried out on a 44-year-old woman by Dr. A.B. Gopalamurugan, Structural Interventional Cardiologist at the hospital.

It marks a significant milestone, as patients with the rare condition previously had to travel overseas for this specialised treatment.

The patient had lived with severe breathlessness for more than 11 years after chronic blood clots narrowed the arteries in her lungs and placed excessive strain on her heart.

Although she underwent open-heart surgery and later travelled to the UK for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in 2017, residual blockages continued to limit her daily activities.

“I struggled to walk with my children, complete household chores, and even perform my duties at work,” said Mrs. Sara Al Matari.

“The surgery in the UK improved my condition, but I still needed further treatment that was not available in the UAE until now.”

Minimally invasive alternative

Dr. Gopalamurugan explained that BPA uses a catheter fitted with a tiny balloon to open narrowed or blocked pulmonary arteries through a small incision in the leg.

The procedure restores blood flow to the lungs without the need for another major operation.

He noted that the patient’s previous surgeries made another open-heart procedure highly risky. BPA therefore offered the safest and most appropriate treatment option.

The intervention was completed without complications, and doctors recorded an immediate reduction in lung pressure during the procedure.

The patient remained awake throughout, walked within 24 hours, and was discharged soon afterwards.

The multidisciplinary team included Dr. Hani Sabbour, who had managed the patient’s condition for nearly a decade, and Dr. Yogeeswari Vellore Satyanarayanan, Specialist Cardiology and Pulmonary Hypertension Unit Lead.

Their coordinated care helped identify the need for the advanced intervention and ensured timely treatment.

Expanding advanced cardiovascular care

Dr. Shanila Laiju, Group Chief Executive Officer of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres, said the introduction of BPA reflects the group’s commitment to delivering advanced, patient-centred care closer to home.

She added that the minimally invasive approach broadens treatment options while reducing the need for high-risk surgery.

Dr. Jishan Madathil, Chief Operating Officer of Medcare Hospitals Sharjah Cluster, said the availability of BPA in the UAE will spare many patients the burden of travelling abroad to centres in countries such as the UK and the US for specialised treatment.

He also urged people with persistent breathlessness, especially those with a history of pulmonary blood clots, to seek specialist evaluation because CTEPH is the only potentially curable form of pulmonary hypertension.

Separately, Medcare recently launched the cloud-based InterSystems TrakCare electronic medical record system at Medcare Hospital Sharjah as part of a wider digital transformation programme across its hospitals and medical centres.

The platform is designed to improve clinical decision-making, streamline operations, and enhance patient care.