Robot arm performs heart surgeries at Sharjah hospital

ABU DHABI // A robotic arm has helped doctors in the capital carry out nine heart surgeries since it was installed two months ago.

Al Qassimi Hospital installed a robotic surgery centre as part of a Dh52 million upgrade that was initiated by Sheikh Khalifa, the President.

The unit was installed on July 24 and carried out the first heart surgery on a patient two days later. By August 10, the unit had already carried out nine surgeries on two UAE nationals, and seven expatriates, aged between 49 and 79.

The surgeries were carried out by an unnamed US medical doctor, who offered training on site to Al Qassimi hospital staff.

“The robot can make accurate moves in a very limited space without trembling fingers,” said a statement by the Ministry of Health.

“If a human doctor gets exhausted, the robot’s sensitive arm can move carefully inside the human’s body causing less possible damages to nerves and tissues during the operation.”

Dr. Arif Al Nouriani, chief executive of Al Qassimi Hospital and a cardio consultant, welcomed the new equipment: “Robot surgery is considered one of the latest advanced techniques in medicine and is highly encouraged in the developed countries,” he said.

“The technology assists doctors to conduct accurate surgeries that may take a long time.”