UAE’s First Robotic Hysterectomy Performed at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Minimally Invasive Approach Leads to Faster Recovery Time

Surgeons at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi have performed the UAE’s first robotic hysterectomy surgery, allowing the patient to be up and walking just hours after her life-changing surgery.

Doctors performed the robotic surgery to remove the uterus of an Emirati patient, effectively ending her severe fibroids and endometriosis, two conditions which can cause significant pain and often are not reported due to a lack of awareness in the community. The patient was referred by Healthpoint, a multispecialty hospital in Abu Dhabi, also part of Mubadala’s network of healthcare providers.

“Both fibroids and endometriosis are common in the UAE, and I see a lot of women suffering from them in my practice. Being able to offer women with the most severe cases robotic surgery means they have less pain, their overall recovery time is significantly reduced, and they can get back to living their lives sooner” says Dr. M. Jean Uy-Kroh, a Staff Physician in the Surgical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Robotic surgery allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with greater precision than traditional methods. The surgeon makes small incisions only for insertion of the surgical tools and controls them from a console that provides a live, 3D view of the surgical site, providing extremely fine control and greater flexibility to the surgeon, but also a significantly less pain for the patient.

“This procedure was the first of its kind in the UAE. I’m excited that we’re able to bring these kinds of advanced surgeries to the region. We are the only hospital in Abu Dhabi equipped to perform a complex surgery of this kind,” says Dr. Uy-Kroh.

The recipient of the UAE’s first robotic hysterectomy was first seen by Dr. Uy-Kroh at Healthpoint and was referred to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi for minimally invasive surgery, given the complexity of her case. Patients at Healthpoint can benefit from the technology and specialized staff available at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as a result of the close collaboration among Mubadala Healthcare facilities. Close to 15 percent of Dr. Uy-Kroh’s patients receive care at both hospitals.

Recovery times for robotic surgeries are shorter than traditional procedures due to the small incisions the minimally invasive approach affords surgeons. Recovery times drop from around six to eight weeks to just four, and patients can be discharged from the hospital the same day after a robotic hysterectomy.

“Following the procedure, the patient was up walking, eating, and doing her normal activities the day of the surgery and was medically ready for discharge less than 12 hours later,” explains Dr. Uy-Kroh.

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus and are common among women in the UAE, with around one in five affected.Some fibroids are painless, while others can cause low blood levels requiring blood transfusion, kidney failure, and pain from the large tumors. While endometriosis can be symptom-free it can also result in chronic, debilitating pelvic pain due to scarring and inflammation caused by abnormal tissue growth on other pelvic organs, such as the bowel, ovaries, or fallopian tubes.

While medications can be used to control the symptoms of both conditions, in severe cases, surgery is the only option to cure them.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Surgical Subspecialties Institute brings together four surgical specialties across a broad spectrum of surgical needs. The institute focuses on advanced urological services, state-of-the-art ear, nose and throat services, plastic reconstructive surgery as well as routine, complex dental procedures.