First in ME and Eastern Europe: Surgery-free technology used for dialysis in Dubai

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has started using advanced technology to prepare patients for dialysis through catheters using sound waves and without surgical intervention.

This makes the Dubai Health Authority the first health institution in the Middle East and Eastern Europe to use this advanced technology for patients with kidney failure.

Last week, Rashid Hospital succeeded in performing the first operation using this technology on a 20-year-old patient who was suffering from kidney failure and urgently needed to start the dialysis process.

Doctors at the Vascular Surgery Department at Rashid Hospital were able to deploy this technology and prepare the patient for hemodialysis through the catheter and without the need for surgery.

Dr Deena Al Qudra, Head of the Vascular Surgery Department at Rashid Hospital and head of the medical team, said that the patient had been suffering from kidney failure for many years.

He visited Rashid Hospital and the necessary tests were performed for him before he was transferred to the one-day operations department to perform this procedure, which took 34 minutes under local anesthesia.

The procedure was a success and the patient left the hospital within one hour.

She added that the patient needs several follow-ups before starting the dialysis process after 6 to 8 weeks.  She pointed out that conducting such type of operations at the Dubai Health Authority will open the way for patients to benefit from this service, which will save them high financial costs and hospital stays as compared to the traditional surgery. It will also contribute to saving the doctor’s time and effort and provide an opportunity to serve many patients.

Dr Al Qudra said that the use of this technology depends on a number of factors and the patient’s condition and that after an evaluation as well as ultrasound examination of the veins and arteries in the arm, this technology is used for the patient.

She added that 30 per cent of kidney patients who need dialysis will benefit from this technique. She added that the DHA prioritises the use of technology and medical advances to benefit patient and provide high-quality patient centered care.

WAM