In a region first, robotic lung transplants in Abu Dhabi
- Last updated: July 8, 2025 | 14:51
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has made history by performing the Gulf region’s first-ever robotic lung transplant making it one of the five centres in the world to have performed this surgery. With this landmark complex surgery, two patients have now successfully undergone robotic lung transplants, marking a major milestone in the region’s advanced surgical and organ transplant capabilities.
Both patients had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as well as secondary pulmonary hypertension, a progressive condition that gradually scars the lungs and makes breathing increasingly difficult.
Dr. Usman Ahmad, Chair of Thoracic Surgery, performed the complex robotic procedures along with a multi-disciplinary team of experts, including Drs. Yusuf Bayrak, Andres Obeso, Binu Esaw, Arun Kumar, and pulmonary experts including Drs. Fadi Hamed, Said Isse and Miriam Mihalechkova.
These surgeries were quite complex due to pulmonary hypertension, a condition that puts extra strain on the heart and lungs. To support the patients during the operation, the medical team used Veno-Arterial ECMO, a technique that temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs while the damaged lungs are replaced.
These life-saving surgeries would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of organ donor families, whose selfless gifts make such transplants possible.
Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: "At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, we’re proud to be global pioneers in robotic surgery, advancing the field of robotic transplantation and bringing new hope to patients in need. Being one of only a handful of centres in the world capable of performing these procedures reflects the exceptional skill, talent, and world-class expertise we have at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. It also reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for healthcare innovation.”
Dr. Usman Ahmad, Division Chair, Thoracic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: "Performing a robotic-assisted lung transplant requires not just the surgical expertise, but more importantly a fully integrated ecosystem of advanced technology, expert anesthesia support, and meticulous perfusion management.
In these cases, the robotic approach was chosen due to its minimally invasive nature, which can be particularly beneficial for patients with severe frailty. By using smaller incisions and offering enhanced visualization, the robotic platform allowed us to reduce trauma to the chest, minimize bleeding, and accelerate recovery.
Dr. Fadi Hamed, Staff Physician, Critical Care, Integrated Hospital Care Institute, said: "What sets Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Lung Transplant Program apart is our ability to offer timely, high-quality care in a region where such advanced procedures were once considered out of reach, with success rates matching international benchmarks.
Our patients benefit from significantly shorter wait times, access to size-matched donor organs through our integrated transplant network, and minimal ischemic time, which directly improves outcomes.