HMC performs first robotic pancreatic surgery in Qatar

An expert multi-disciplinary team from the Hepatobiliary-pancreatic and liver surgery department at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has successfully performed Qatar's first robotic pancreatic surgery on a middle-aged female patient diagnosed with a cystic lesion of the pancreas.

Cystic lesions of the pancreas are a group of pancreatic lesions characterized by a cystic appearance. Many pancreatic cysts are found during abdominal scans (accidental discovery) for other problems and they can be benign or malignant.

The patient was presented by pain, discomfort in the upper abdominal region, and hypogastric area; she went for a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which helped evaluate the cyst in relation to the pancreatic duct. The imaging showed the pancreatic cyst had been there for about a year and a half, and it gradually increased in size.

The patient was then admitted to Hamad General Hospital and underwent robotic distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy (removal of part of the pancreas and spleen), using the latest surgical robotic system Da Vinci XI robot platform. The surgery was completed faster than the traditional approaches (i.e., open, or laparoscopic approach by the same team) with minimal blood loss and a short hospital stay. The cyst was removed and sent for pathology, which showed that it was benign, not cancerous.

The patient recovered well; she was discharged home in excellent condition and regained her normal daily activities in three days. The procedure was performed by Dr. Ahmed Elaffandi, Senior Consultant, and Dr. Ibnouf Sulieman, Associate Consultant, at HMC’s Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, under the supervision and guidance of Dr. Hany Atalah, Director of Robotic Surgeries at HMC.

Talking about the procedure, Dr. Atalah said: "The procedure's success underlines our ongoing journey to provide the best quality care with the most advanced treatment modalities," he added. "Significant advances have been made throughout Qatar in robotic surgery and treatment."

He further explained: "Using this robotic approach, surgeons can complete the procedure in less time than the laparoscopic method with additional benefits that the da Vinci Robot provides. The da Vinci robot offers more precise and ergonomic capabilities using magnified 3D HD vision and its articulated robotic arms controlled completely by the surgeon."

"The main advantage of that approach is minimal blood loss, minimal post-operative pain, and a faster recovery period, allowing the patient to regain digestive flow and a better quality of life. We now challenge further advances in developing our knowledge and expertise in this specialty to increase patient satisfaction. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the best quality care in line with HMC's commitment to providing the safest, most effective, and the most compassionate care to its patient," Dr. Hany explained.

Dr. Atalah concluded: "This robotic surgery represents a new milestone in our efforts to provide the very best surgical care and treatment in Qatar. This remarkable success is a major step in HMC's ongoing success in developing advanced treatment options for patients needing surgery. The induction of robotic surgery as a treatment option today means that our patients can successfully receive their treatment here in Qatar instead of traveling abroad."

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Source: HMC