UAE hospital performs first robotic-assisted DIEP flap breast reconstruction

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has performed the UAE’s first robotic-assisted Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator, or DIEP, flap breast reconstruction on a breast cancer survivor, according to the state news agency WAM.

The patient had previously undergone a mastectomy. The procedure marks a milestone in women’s health and reconstructive surgery in the country.

The surgery combines robotic technology with microsurgical expertise and reflects the hospital’s focus on advanced surgical techniques to improve patient outcomes.

The DIEP flap procedure traditionally involves relatively long incisions into the muscle cover layer, increasing the risk of abdominal weakness and hernia, as well as extended recovery time and postoperative pain.

Using robotic technology, the surgical team harvested abdominal tissue through small incisions, preserving the muscle and its fascial integrity, WAM reported.

The tissue was then transferred to reconstruct the breast, restoring a natural shape using the patient’s own tissue.

The robot’s three-dimensional visualization and wristed instruments enabled delicate dissection of abdominal blood vessels with greater accuracy and safety.

This approach minimized trauma to the abdominal wall and supported a quicker recovery with reduced postoperative pain.

“This is a surgical milestone that reflects what healthcare in the UAE is becoming,” said Dr Georges-Pascal Haber, chief executive officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

He said the hospital is combining world-class expertise with advanced technologies to deliver care that was once available only abroad.

“Performing the UAE’s first robotic-assisted DIEP flap breast reconstruction shows how far we’ve come and how committed we are to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, right here in Abu Dhabi,” Haber said.

Dr Raffi Gurunian, staff physician at the Integrated Surgical Institute and section head of plastic surgery, said robotic-assisted reconstruction minimizes many side effects seen after conventional DIEP flap surgery.

He described the operation as a complex, high-precision surgery that was completed with no complications.

“We believe this represents the future of reconstructive surgery, providing patients with minimally invasive solutions that reduce pain, abdominal issues, and recovery time,” Gurunian said.