Abu Dhabi carries out first robotic surgery to remove appendiceal tumour

A 48-year-old patient with a rare appendiceal tumour has become the first in Abu Dhabi to undergo a robotic cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Dr. Yasir Akmal, Staff Physician in the Digestive Disease Institute, led a multi-disciplinary team at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to perform the complex procedure.

It involved the removal of multiple internal organs to prevent the spread of the tumour in the patient's abdomen, and the administration of the HIPEC treatment where heated chemotherapy (42 degrees Celsius) is circulated within the abdominal cavity to eliminate any residual cancer cells.

The patient, who initially presented symptoms resembling appendicitis, was undergoing a procedure to remove the organ when the surgeons discovered gelatinous deposits (jelly-like substance) in the abdominal cavity.

A subsequent pathology report confirmed the presence of a rare low-grade mucinous neoplasm, a tumour that, if untreated, could spread throughout the abdomen and result in a condition known as pseudomyxoma peritonei or “jelly belly".

Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, highlighted that the "minimally invasive techniques... (helps) improve outcomes and enhance quality of life".

According to the official stats, appendiceal tumours account for less than 1 per cent of malignancies worldwide and are found in approximately 1.4 per cent of patients who undergo an appendectomy.

Highlighting both the preventive and curative nature of the surgery, Dr. Akmal said that the patient's condition was diagnosed at an advanced but treatable stage, and thanks to the timely intervention of the multidisciplinary team, supported by specialised AI-driven diagnostic tools, the team was able to navigate the process of eliminating the cancer cells in her body with precision.