"Shakhbout Medical" A qualitative achievement has been achieved in the transplantation of the auditory brainstem for children in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, 22nd April, 2017 (WAM) – Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, affiliated with the PureHealth Group, has achieved a qualitative and advanced medical achievement in the field of auditory neurology, which reflects the growing level of capabilities of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in providing highly specialized care for complex and critical cases, by carrying out the first auditory brainstem implant (ABI) surgeries for two 23-month-old children, in a precedent that is the first of its kind in the emirate.

This achievement embodies a qualitative shift within the healthcare model in Abu Dhabi, which is based on harnessing innovation and strengthening international partnerships to create sustainable therapeutic value for patients, as these surgeries were performed within the framework of the visiting doctors program launched by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, which allows the alignment of global expertise with national competencies, and the provision of the latest advanced therapeutic solutions within the country.

Auditory brainstem implantation is one of the most accurate and complex surgical interventions in the field of auditory neurology. It is used in cases where it is not possible to benefit from a cochlear implant due to the absence or damage of the auditory nerve or the cochlea.

This procedure directly stimulates the brainstem, enabling children to perceive ambient sounds and supporting the development of speech and language skills during the crucial early years of their development.

The two operations were carried out after a series of careful medical evaluations that included advanced tests, led by a multidisciplinary team from Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, in cooperation with Professor Robert Behr, a visiting neurosurgeon from Germany, in an integrated model that reflects the synergy of global expertise with the local health system.

Dr. Abdul Qader Al-Musabi, Executive Medical Director of Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, said that this achievement represents a practical embodiment of how to employ innovation and institutional integration to improve the quality of life of patients, stressing that the institution is not satisfied with providing advanced medical intervention, but rather contributes to redrawing the limits of the possible for rare and complex cases, while ensuring the availability of the best levels of care within the country.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Al Shamsi, Head of the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, explained that the fundamental value of this procedure stems from its direct and profound impact on the lives of patients, as it gives children the ability to perceive sounds, interact with their surroundings, and build communication skills in their early years, indicating that this experience represents a significant humanitarian turning point for families, when the child is able to hear his parents’ voice for the first time.

In turn, Professor Robert Behr stressed that this achievement reflects an advanced level of integration between global expertise and local capabilities, pointing out that auditory brainstem implantation is an advanced treatment option for a limited category of patients, and requires high levels of precision and specialized expertise, which makes providing it within an integrated local health system a strategic step towards expanding access to this type of advanced care.

Although this procedure does not completely restore hearing, it achieves tangible therapeutic gains, including enabling patients to perceive sounds, enhancing opportunities for language development and communication, and improving quality of life and social integration, through specialized rehabilitation programs and ongoing speech sessions.

With the introduction of this advanced treatment capacity, Abu Dhabi continues to consolidate its position as a leading global center in specialized health care, by transforming medical innovation into a tangible impact that directly reflects on the lives and quality of patients.

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