KUWAIT: Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Centre has successfully conducted the first remote robotic radical prostatectomy surgery in the Middle East, using the MicroPort Medbot Toumai surgical robotic system to treat a Kuwaiti patient diagnosed with prostate cancer. This makes Kuwait one of the first countries globally to perform such a procedure using technology from MicroPort, a multinational medical technology developer and manufacturer that is primarily headquartered in Shanghai, China. Dr Saad Al-Dosari, the center’s director who performed the surgery remotely from China, said in a phone interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the procedure adds a remarkable achievement to Kuwait’s healthcare sector. It represents a significant medical milestone in the Middle East at a time when the healthcare system continues to advance in robotic surgeries.

Dr Saad Al-Dosari, Director of Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Centre, performs the Middle East's first remote robotic radical prostatectomy surgery remotely from China.

Al-Dosari highlighted the unique aspect of the surgery, noting that the patient was approximately 7,000 kilometers away, and the operation was conducted as if the surgical team were physically present in Kuwait. He explained that robotic surgeries had been introduced at the center in 2014, but this remote surgery, known as Telesurgery, is a first for both the Arabian Gulf and the broader Middle East.

He emphasized that patient safety is the top priority. A full medical team, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses, was present in the operating room in Kuwait to intervene if necessary. Despite the distance, the surgery was performed with high precision as though the surgical team was right next to the patient.

Healthcare professionals oversee the surgery in the operation room at the Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Centre.

Al-Dosari also noted the significance of remote robotic surgeries in enabling the exchange of expertise, performing complex surgeries in collaboration with global centers, and training national medical staff in robotic surgery techniques from any location. He attributed the achievement to the guidance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, emphasizing that this development positions Kuwait among countries leading in adopting the latest advancements in surgical technology. Al-Dosari expressed his sincere gratitude to Minister of Health Dr Ahmad Al-Awadhi for his unwavering support of such cutting-edge technologies, which represent a major leap forward in healthcare technology. — KUNA