Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) today announced a new milestone in the hospital’s use of definitive surgical repair using robotic surgery; successfully treating a patient suffering from complications related to multiple gallstones and features of acute cholecystitis.

The surgery, led by Dr. Salem Al Harthi, Consultant and Chair of the Surgery Department at SSMC, marked another significant achievement in the field of minimally invasive surgery and robotic-assisted procedures. It also further underscores the hospital's commitment to delivering advanced healthcare solutions centred around personalised care and focusing on the patient’s needs.

The 30-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital with clinical features of bile duct injury, a rare complication that can happen following a surgical procedure related to multiple gallstones and of acute cholecystitis – an incidence rate of three to six cases per thousand.

Upon further radiological investigations, including a CT scan and MRI, the diagnosis of bile duct injury was confirmed. The patient was subsequently scheduled for a delayed bile duct injury repair, which was performed using SSMC’s surgical robotic-assisted technology.

Dr. Al Harthi said, “Using the latest technologies in robotic-assisted surgery, I was able to perform precise surgical repair through extremely small incisions. The use of intra venous dye, robotic magnification, and precise instrument control, facilitated the complex anastomosis between the bile duct injury and the small bowel in very close proximity to the liver. The surgery proved successful, even under the most challenging anatomical conditions.

"The technology we can deploy for robotic-assisted surgery allows me and my fellow surgeons at SSMC to perform a highly intricate procedure with levels of outstanding precision and control. In this case, it provided our multidisciplinary surgical team with an unparalleled visualization of the bile duct anatomy, enabling us to achieve optimal outcomes for the patient."

The patient was discharged within three days, with no further complications reported.