UAE takes a big leap in organ transplant
abu dhabi — A team of transplant surgeons from Abu Dhabi harvested liver from a deceased donor in Ajman, flew back with it and transplanted it in a 60-yearold Emirati man. The life-saving eight-hour surgery was performed earlier this month. Days later, another medical team flew to Fujairah, harvested a pair of lungs from a deceased donor and transplanted the right lung in a 53-yearold Emirati man, giving him a new lease of life.
These two surgeries marked the UAE’s first full liver and lung transplants from deceased donors.
During a Press conference held at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, top organ transplant surgeons said they have “created history” in the UAE by developing a “comprehensive multi-organ transplant programme”.
In December 2017, the hospital’s surgeons had performed the UAE’s first cadaver heart transplant, while in September, another team conducted the first kidney transplant. These life-saving surgeries were made possible by a decree last year allowing transplants from deceased donors.
abu dhabi — In a medical breakthrough, the UAE has completed the first full liver transplant and first lung transplant, both from deceased donors this month.
During a press conference held at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, some of the world’s top organ transplant surgeons revealed that they have created history in the UAE by developing a comprehensive multi-organ transplant programme, which is already transforming patients’ lives.
Just this month, the hospital successfully conducted the country’s first full liver and lung transplants, both from deceased donors.
But this is not the first time the hospital made history in organ transplantation.
In December 2017, its surgeons performed the UAE’s first full heart transplant, while a team from the hospital successfully conducted one of the UAE’s first kidney transplants from a deceased donor in September 2017.
The hospital has now performed deceased donor transplants for four major organs — kidney, heart, liver and lung. Moreover, it is also the nation’s first and only multiorgan transplant facility, following the UAE government decree last year allowing transplants from deceased donors.
A new era in organ transplant
Dr Rakesh Suri, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, told Khaleej Times that the clinic has ushered in a new era in multi-organ transplant in the UAE. “We preformed the first brain-dead donor transplant in September 2017, which was a kidney transplant.
“In the evening of December 5, 2017, we identified a suitable match for one of our patients, who has been suffering with crippling heart failure for months. He was unable to work, he was unable to play or spend time with his children.” Dr Suri said the patient had the surgery on his seven-yearold child’s birthday. “I remember speaking to the patient before starting the heart transplant and I asked him how he was feeling.
“He said: ‘Pease help me, it’s my seven-year-old’s birthday today and I cannot be with my child, because I cannot breathe’.”
The patient’s only other option was to seek treatment abroad, waiting weeks or months, if not years. “He now has a brand new heart that is functioning remarkably well; he is back to his normal life, back to his family and work.”
During the hour of sorrow that comes with the death of a relative, the families of donors stepped up. They did remarkable things. They showed selflessness and humanity.” Dr Rakesh Suri, CEO, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
The doctor stressed that the families of the donors have demonstrated the true meaning of selflessness by providing the life-saving organs, so that patients did not continue to suffer like their loved ones did. “During the hour of sorrow that comes with the death of a relative, the families of donors stepped up. They did remarkable things. They showed selflessness and humanity.”
Hasan Al Nowais, vice-president of Mubadala Healthcare, said His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has been personally following up on the patients. “This shows you that regardless of who the person is, he will definitely be on top of these cases, which is a huge sentiment to all of us.”
Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health, said he is immensely proud that the UAE has achieved such colossal medical milestones. He pointed out that the next step has to be supporting a robust culture of organ donation to make it easy for people to gift their organs.
“We are seeing the incredible impact that organ donation is having on multiple lives within the UAE, and are receiving regular enquiries from people looking to donate, so will work with our partners to make the process easier and more accessible.”
Dr Suri said the programme came to fruition in 2017, with the announcement of the diseased donor laws in the UAE. This led to the first brain-dead donor kidney transplant and heart transplant. Seamless partnership and trust between the various stakeholders has been key in insuring the success of organ transplantation, he noted.
Moreover, Dr Suri pointed out that the Abu Dhabi Police have also been tireless partners, ensuring that the life-saving organs can be transported in critical times, through the country and even through the region.