UAE's First Tracheal Reconstruction Surgery Performed
at Tawam Hospital
Tawam Hospital, affiliated to the Johns Hopkins Medicine in the US, has announced that the UAE’s first tracheal reconstruction surgery was recently performed at the hospital by Dr Jack Borders, one of the world’s leading practitioners in the field of Otolaryngology.
Dr Borders' successful surgery brought relief to a 10-year-old Emirati from Abu Dhabi, who for years had been suffering from a breathing disorder.
The boy's condition, diagnosed as tracheal stenosis, often left him struggling for breath even when doing minor activities. With the successful operation, the boy is now able to breathe without difficulty and participate in various activities.
“The surgery which I performed was a tracheal reconstruction with an autologous rib graft. It was the first of these procedures to be performed in the UAE as children with this type of anatomic airway obstruction have in the past been sent overseas for surgical repair and reconstruction of the larynx and trachea. Parents will be pleased to know that their children now do not have to leave their homeland for such a life-changing surgery,” said Dr Borders.
In collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine, Tawam Hospital has been heavily investing in medical infrastructure and the latest medical technologies and manpower resources to improve the standard of healthcare in the country. Explaining the procedure, Dr Borders said, “the parents' consent, I took a piece of the boy's rib cartilage and opened the trachea or windpipe, carefully sculpting the rib to fit exactly into the defect. The grafted rib was then sutured into place, making the repair airtight.
“Then I looked through the larynx or voice box to ensure that the graft had opened the trachea as was intended. I then re-intubated the child and sent him to the ICU, where he stayed for five days while the graft healed into place. When I returned to look again into the trachea, I found it to be widely open and the graft beautifully positioned. I extubated the child and he now breathes without difficulty,” he said.
Commenting on the surgical breakthrough, Michael Heindel, CEO of Tawam Hospital, said, “This is a moment of pride for Tawam Hospital. There is no greater reward to our efforts than to see a patient recover with no difficulty after a surgery.”
“We will in the future be able to offer paediatric airway reconstruction to children from all over the GCC, treating airway narrowing and blockages,” concluded Dr Borders.