KUWAIT: Doctors and paramedics work with the new equipment, Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (Abdsorb). — Photo by Joseph Shagra

KUWAIT: For the first time in Kuwait, the Chest Hospital performed a successful cardiac catheterization surgery through the CorPath Vascular Robotic Stenting using Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (Abdsorb). This is the first time the equipment has been used in the region. Kuwait is the first in the Gulf region to receive CorPath Vascular Robotic Stenting. This system enables the precise, robotic-assisted control of coronary guide wires and balloon/stent devices during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

"The chest hospital received the Robotic System two days ago. This machine is the third machine outside the US - and it's the second in the Gulf. The Ministry of Health approved the machine for the Chest Hospital which is the biggest of its kind in the Middle East - where we perform around 30 to 40 surgeries daily. Last year, we performed 8000 operations with 3000 innervations." Dr Mohammed Al-Mutairi , Head of Cardiology Department at Chest Hospital said.

Mutairi added that the CorPath Vascular Robotic System minimizes the radiation to almost 0% - without wearing protection suits. "As a doctor in Cardiology Department, we work with radiation daily and we are regularly exposed to X-ray radiations. Doctors who frequently work around these machines take every precaution to reduce the risk of radiation exposure by wearing a 10 Kg suit, but it also heavy and risky. This Robotic Machine helps to minimize the radiation to almost 0% and it prevent doctors from having cataracts, and developing some sort of cancers. It brings robotic precision to interventional cardiology while enabling a safer working environment for the cath lab team," he said.

For his part, Joe Aquilina, Clinical Account Manager of Corindus Orthopedic told Kuwait Times that the angioplasty procedure has remained unchanged for over the last 30 years. Unlike many other invasive procedures, today's PCI procedure remains largely unchanged from its introduction, and current PCI is not optimized to the level of complexity, dexterity and precision required.

Aquilina added that the occupational hazards in the cath lab are serious. "As PCI procedures become more complex and longer, radiation exposure and time in heavy lead gear continue to increase. Corindus developed the CorPath System to bring robotic precision to interventional cardiology while enabling a safer working environment for the cath lab team," Aquilina explained.

On the benefits of Corpath robotic-Assisted PCI, Aquilina said that the machine has 95% reduction rate in radiation exposure for primary operator, and it performs procedures comfortably, without the need for heavy lead aprons. The Corpath robotic system enhanced visualization while seated in the Interventional Cockpit. It prevents orthopedic injuries such as a 60% incidence of spine issues after 21 years in practice; 28% report hip, knee, or ankle problems among others.

By Faten Omar