HMC team conducts milestone robotic surgery to remove choledochal cyst

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC)’s Robotic Surgery Department, in collaboration with the HMC’s Liver Surgery Department, conducted a "remarkably successful" robotic surgery for a middle-aged female to remove a choledochal cyst, caused by a congenital abnormality of the duct and transforming the track of the bile ducts to the small intestines.The operation was conducted at Hamad General Hospital and is considered the first of its kind in GCC and Middle East region, the HMC said in a statement.

Dr Hany Atallah

“The patient complained of severe abdominal pains and yellowing of the eyes and the skin,” the statement said. “Blood tests showed that the patient suffered from a high rate of jaundice, which required further abdominal ultrasound and MRI screenings that showed extensions in the bile ducts.”“A multidisciplinary team of doctors, consultants, anaesthesia and nursing specialists decided to conduct a prompt surgical intervention to remove the cyst and transforming the track of the bile ducts to normal,” said HMC Robotic Surgeries director Dr Hany Atalah.“We decided to use the Da Vinci robot to perform in this rare case to avoid any complications that might be occur in traditional surgeries, which would require a 17-20cm abdominal cut, while the robotic intervention required performing six small-size incisions, which is one of robotic surgery's advantages in addition to the reduced surgery time of six hours,” he explained. “The patient recovered well, and was discharged in excellent condition and regained her normal life within only three days, instead of a recovery time of no less than seven days for traditional surgeries.“With all the advantages reflected in any patient undergoing a robotic surgery, such as a reduced blood loss to minimum rates, reduced post-surgery pain and fast recovery, which helps improve the quality of life for patients, robotic surgeries also provide doctors with precise and easy access and enable the surgeon to control the robot through a screen,” Dr Atalah said. “The robot performs the orders given by the surgeon through controllers.”The HMC continues to embrace the latest medical technologies and to improve the knowledge and expertise of specialists to enhance patient satisfaction, ensuring the provision of the safest and most effective healthcare for patients.This surgical milestone represents the outcome of the investments in healthcare in Qatar, the statement adds.