First 'successfully performed atherectomy' procedure in Middle East performed at SKMC

SKMC is owned and operated by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The surgeries performed at SKMC include both open and endovascular procedures. Amongst these surgeries was the first thoracic aortic stenting procedure performed at SKMC by Dr Amit Kumar, Vascular Surgeon, for a patient with a traumatic injury to the aorta.

Moreover, the variety of services that are provided at SKMC include:

1. Treatment of aortic aneurysms - both with open operations and using the latest aortic stents. Other diseases that can be treated with similar stents are aortic dissections. This is for diseases involving the aorta in the chest and in the abdomen. In fact, SKMC is currently the only facility to provide comprehensive, open and endovascular treatment of aortic diseases.

2. Treatment of carotid stenosis, where artery narrowing places patients at high risk for suffering strokes. To treat this condition, carotid endarterectomy and carotid stenting are available for appropriate patients.

3. Treatment of abnormal connections between arteries and veins (AVM's).

4. Treatment of gangrenous extremities, which involves both open bypasses as well as a multitude of endovascular procedures including opening of blood vessels of the foot.

5. Renal artery stenting as well as creation of AV fistulas is performed for diabetic patients suffering from kidney failure. These cases are followed up in collaboration with SKMC nephrology team.

6. Popliteal aneurysms, thoracic outlet syndrome, Buerger's disease (seen in smokers) are other diseases that are treated by Vascular Surgery at SKMC.

Dr Scott Strong, Acting CEO of SKMC, stated that "Performing vascular surgeries at SKMC is a crucial expansion that makes us amongst the region's leaders in vascular surgeries providing a full spectrum of surgical services to our patients. Our statistics indicate that 120 patients per month are visiting the Vascular Surgery clinic for follow-up at SKMC, and this number is expected to increase in the near future."

"The Department of Surgery at SKMC demonstrates a commitment by SKMC, Cleveland Clinic, and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company - SEHA to provide medical care that is advanced and meets internationally recognized standards of excellence," Dr Strong added.

Dr Michel Bussieres, Chair of Surgery Department at SKMC, commented that "Performing vascular surgeries for our patients by the Vascular Surgery Team led by Dr. Amit Kumar is a significant achievement in advanced surgical care for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE. SKMC is committed to continuous improvement of care to ultimately improve the health of the population of the UAE."

Dr Amit Kumar stated that "Much of the endovascular therapies provided at SKMC are considered cutting edge therapies in many aspects; however, there are procedures done at SKMC which have not been done at all in the Middle East. One such successful procedure is the "atherectomy" procedure. This endovascular procedure allows one to shave off the blockage that is present on the inside of the blood vessels which is causing blockage to the forward flow of the blood".

Dr. Kumar further explained that "Patients who are ideal candidates for treatment using minimally invasive endovascular techniques are patients suffering from symptoms of leg pain upon walking and relieved by rest. These symptoms develop most commonly in the calf muscles; however, depending upon which part of the blood circulation is affected, symptoms can appear in other parts of the body. This spectrum of symptoms is known as intermittent claudication. The procedure is so minimally invasive that patients undergoing this form of treatment are typically discharged on the same day or the next day. Perhaps the most important aspect of this therapy provided at SKMC by Vascular Surgery is that there is regular follow-up with optimization of vascular medical therapies both before and after endovascular therapy."

Vascular Surgeries at SKMC

Vascular Surgery is a branch of surgery which treats almost all the blood vessels of the body. It involves the optimization of medications as well as treatment of these diseases with endovascualr procedures and with open operations. Thus, modern vascular surgeons provide comprehensive medical treatment for vascular diseases.

The prevalence of this disease is not known at present in the UAE; however, the typical causes of developing vascular disease are smoking and diabetes mellitus. Given that the prevalence of both of these is about 50% at the present time, the incidence of vascular disease is expected to be high as well. In fact, the Division of Vascular Surgery at SKMC is conducting research to define the extent of peripheral vascular disease in the United Arab Emirates.

The awareness of vascular diseases is not where it is for other medical problems especially in light of the fact that cardiac disease and vascular disease go hand in hand. In this context, regular educational sessions for the benefit of physicians and the health care community at large in the UAE have been done. This has included talks at Arab Health Conference in Dubai and sessions with a host of physicians both at SKMC as well as at other hospitals and clinics. This has generated increased awareness and detection of vascular disease seen by the increased patient volume currently being seen at the Vascular Surgery Division of SKMC. The average number of patients being seen on a weekly basis is around 30.

Perhaps one of the most important roles that any tertiary care hospital plays is to provide care in two important aspects - improvement of quality of life, not just treatment of life or limb threatening problems, and the improved performance of procedures which are at the leading edge of treatments anywhere in the world or have not been done in this part of the world before.

Dr. Kumar did his training at the University of Rochester and then at the Cleveland Clinic. He then joined SKMC in October 2007 after having been at Cleveland, with the goal of providing comprehensive treatment of vascular diseases in the United Arab Emirates.