Abu Dhabi: New Endoscopic Procedure, Faster Diagnosis!

Physicians at the Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), the largest hospital for severe and complicated care in the UAE, located in Abu Dhabi, and a joint venture between Mayo Clinic and Abu Dhabi Health Services Corporation (Seha), have launched an innovative new endoscopic technique to greatly boost patient care. This method, referred to as spiral enteroscopy, represents the first use of the technique in the UAE.

It can be used to investigate disorders in the small intestine and in some cases, to cure them, helping to improve care and health outcomes with chronic and complex diseases. An over-tube device that slips over an enteroscope, an instrument for examining the interior of the intestine, which has a spiral located on the tip, is a spiral enteroscopy. To allow the enteroscope to travel rapidly and inspect the small intestine, the spiral is rotated. Dr Matthew Gettman, chief medical officer of SSMC, commented: “We are extremely proud to bring a new and innovative examination and therapeutic technique to diagnose and treat small intestine conditions to the UAE.

Patient care and experience are at the heart of everything we do, which is why we are committed to leveraging Mayo Clinic and Seha’s knowledge and expertise to bring the latest medical advancements and diagnostic and treatment methods to their doorstep.” SSMC is also collaborating with other health care organizations across the country as part of the interconnected health ecosystem of the UAE to deploy spiral enteroscopy for their patients.

Dr Abdulqader Almessabi, gastroenterology and hepatology specialist and deputy chief medical officer, and Dr Ibrahim Al Hosani, gastroenterology and hepatology consultant, pioneered the development of SSMC’s spiral enteroscopy technique. Dr Al Hosani was the first surgeon to conduct a spiral enteroscopy on a patient in Abu Dhabi. The treatment was performed via the colon for medicinal reasons.