UAE -XCath, an early-stage medical device company committed to advancing endovascular treatment robotic systems, showcased cutting-edge medical technology during the Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW).
Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira, a seasoned neurosurgeon under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH), conducted a live telerobotic surgery trial for emergency stroke treatment.
From Abu Dhabi, Dr. Pereira remotely treated a patient located 7,000km away in South Korea.
Using advanced technology, he performed a mechanical thrombectomy procedure, swiftly removing blood clots from the patient’s brain to mitigate the effects of the stroke.
Dr. Pereira adeptly navigated the patient’s arteries and successfully extracted a blood clot, offering a glimpse into the potential of remote surgical interventions.
“We performed the world’s first telerobotic mechanical thrombectomy trial, where we simulated a model of a patient, not a real patient, with our neuro-endovascular robot based in South Korea, 7,000km away from the surgeon’s console here in Abu Dhabi,” affirmed Eduardo Fonseca, CEO of XCath, emphasizing the pioneering nature of the achievement.
Dr. Pereira, renowned for conducting the world’s inaugural neurovascular robotic procedure in 2019, seamlessly controlled and executed the clot removal procedure using telerobotic means, accentuating the precision and efficacy of remote surgical interventions.
The procedure, executed with cutting-edge robotic technology, entailed Dr. Pereira operating via a robotic controller while the silicone model and bedside unit were stationed in Seoul.
The surgery utilized neurovascular devices such as Stryker AXS Infinity LS, Trevo Trakb21, and Trevo NXT, which showcased the potential for advanced medical interventions conducted remotely.
“The treatment is time-sensitive. Every minute that a patient does not get this treatment equates to almost 2 million brain cells lost,“ stressed Fonseca, highlighting the urgency of prompt medical intervention in stroke cases.
Despite the limited access to such treatment options in the developed world, the advent of robotics in healthcare promises to democratize medical care, bridging geographical disparities and bringing lifesaving interventions within reach of remote populations.
Strokes, a leading cause of death and disability globally, pose a significant burden on healthcare systems, with millions of lives affected annually.
Fonseca reiterated the immense societal and economic toll of stroke-related disabilities, emphasizing the urgency of expanding access to advanced treatments.
While the first clinical case utilizing telerobotic surgery is slated for the coming year pending regulatory approvals, Fonseca acknowledged the protracted process of bringing such innovations to fruition.
For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook
Be the first to leave a comment