UAE’s First Robotic HIPEC Surgery Done in Abu Dhabi

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Photo: WAM

In a big step forward for healthcare in the UAE, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has completed the country’s first robotic surgery combined with a special heated chemotherapy treatment. This advanced surgery was done to treat a rare kind of tumor that started in the appendix.

The patient, a 48-year-old woman, had what seemed like normal stomach pain. It looked like she had appendicitis, so doctors removed her appendix. But during the surgery, they found something unusual—a jelly-like substance inside her belly. Later tests showed that she had a rare tumor called a low-grade mucinous neoplasm. If not treated in time, this tumor could have spread throughout her stomach area and caused a condition known as pseudomyxoma peritonei, or “jelly belly.”

To treat her, doctors had to remove several of her internal organs. This was done to stop the tumor from spreading. After removing the tumor, doctors gave her a special treatment called HIPEC, which stands for Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. In this treatment, warm chemotherapy medicine is put into the belly for about 90 minutes at 42°C to kill any cancer cells that might still be there.

The surgery was led by Dr. Yasir Akmal, a surgical cancer doctor at the hospital. He worked with a team of experts from different departments. They also used advanced tools that are powered by artificial intelligence to help make the diagnosis and plan the surgery carefully.

Appendix tumors are very rare. They happen in less than 1 out of 100 people who have cancer, and are found in about 1.4 out of every 100 people who have their appendix removed.

Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, the CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said that this kind of surgery shows how the hospital is using new technology to make treatments better and safer. He said they are proud to be using robotic tools for such hard surgeries and to help patients live better lives.

Dr. Akmal added that the tumor was caught just in time. Because of fast action by the medical team and the use of smart technology, they were able to remove the cancer and give the patient a good chance at full recovery. This surgery is both life-saving and life-changing, and it shows how Abu Dhabi is becoming a top place in the world for advanced medical care.