Abu Dhabi performs robotic surgery to prevent colon cancer

Surgeons in Abu Dhabi have performed a complex, fully robotic surgery to prevent colon cancer in a 37-year-old woman with a rare inherited condition.

The patient had been admitted to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to treat Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), a genetic disorder that carries a near-100 per cent lifetime risk of colon cancer.

Surgeons removed her entire colon and rectum and created a new internal pouch from the small intestine to restore bowel function. She needed a temporary stoma for three months.

The hospital said using robotics allowed greater precision in the tight space of the pelvis. It also helped protect nerves that control bladder and bowel function, reduced pain after surgery, and supported a faster recovery.

Dr John Rodriguez, who heads the hospital’s Digestive Disease Institute, said combining early diagnosis with robotic precision could change the course of a patient’s life.

Colorectal surgeon Dr Ali Al Jaberi said removing the colon before cancer develops is especially important for young patients, helping them return to full, active lives.