Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Successfully Completes UAE’s First Combined Heart And Double Lung Transplant

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a part of the M42 group, has achieved a significant medical milestone by performing the UAE's first combined heart and double lung transplant. This complex procedure was carried out on a 56-year-old Emirati woman suffering from pulmonary hypertension, a severe condition caused by high pressure in the pulmonary artery that disrupts blood flow between the heart and lungs.

The hospital's success in this challenging surgery highlights its dedication to advanced healthcare services. The achievement was made possible with support from the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), showcasing Abu Dhabi's ambition to become a global leader in healthcare through its advanced transplant capabilities and state-of-the-art facilities.

Since 2017, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has conducted over 700 transplants, including 47 lung and 23 heart transplants. The patient's medical journey began in 2004, leading to her referral to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in March 2022. Dr. Fadi Hamed, consultant pulmonologist and medical director of the lung transplant programme, explained that despite various treatments, her condition did not improve with standard medication.

A comprehensive evaluation by multidisciplinary teams at the hospital determined that a complex surgical intervention was necessary due to the severe enlargement of her heart. Dr. Mitesh V. Badiwala noted that while pulmonary hypertension is usually treated with a lung transplant, this patient's condition required a combined heart and double lung transplant due to her severely enlarged heart and petite frame.

By February 2024, her condition had worsened significantly, with excess water retention and severe breathing difficulties. Her survival was expected to be only a few months without intervention. Dr. Nadya Almatrooshi highlighted that Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is among the few hospitals offering multidisciplinary care for such complex cases.

A dedicated team from various departments worked tirelessly to manage her heart pressure by maintaining high oxygen levels in the ICU until suitable organs were available. This meticulous planning involved cardiology, heart failure specialists, pulmonology, thoracic surgery, cardiac surgery, cardiac intensive care, and cardiac anesthesia teams.

Unique Programme and Global Impact

Dr. Usman Ahmad emphasized that combined heart-lung transplants are rare even at large international centers. He noted that their programme is unique due to short wait times for size-matched organs and brief ischemic times. "Under the guidance of DoH and in collaboration with Hayat," he stated, "we are able to keep ischemic time short for heart and lung transplants."

This capability has resulted in excellent survival outcomes for these complex surgeries. As a result of such advancements, patients from Europe, Asia, and South America are now seeking treatment at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Dr. Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi from DoH remarked on the consistent increase in organ transplants since launching the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (HYATT) in 2017. By the end of 2023, over 800 operations had been performed in Abu Dhabi, significantly improving patient lives.

With inputs from WAM