Healthcare
Al Qassimi Hospital Pioneers Innovative Ischemia Treatment in EMEA Region, Preventing Amputations
Al Qassimi Hospital, a part of Emirates Health Services, has achieved a groundbreaking medical milestone by successfully implanting the first-ever Esprit™ BTK Everolimus Eluting Resorbable Scaffold System (Esprit™ BTK System) in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. This innovative treatment targets chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) below-the-knee (BTK) and is designed to reduce the need for amputations.
The Esprit™ stent, developed by Abbott and recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a dissolvable scaffold that releases medication to heal and strengthen blood vessels. Made from materials similar to surgical sutures, the stent maintains vessel patency before dissolving, significantly reducing long-term complications associated with traditional stents.
Dr. Arif Al Nooryani, Director of Al Qassimi Hospital, emphasized the significance of this achievement, noting that it marks a major advancement in the treatment of vascular blockages. This new therapy provides hope for patients with CLTI BTK, a condition that frequently leads to amputations and carries a high mortality risk. Dr. Al Nooryani highlighted the hospital's dedication to improving healthcare quality in alignment with the UAE's We the UAE 2031 vision and the UAE Centennial 2071 initiative, which promotes innovation in key sectors, including healthcare.
Samih Al Mawass, Division Vice President for Abbott Vascular in the EMEA region, and Dr. Zaki Almuzakki, Head of Vascular Surgery at Al Qassimi Hospital, praised this achievement, underscoring the UAE’s leadership in adopting cutting-edge healthcare technology. The use of the Esprit™ stent in the UAE reinforces Emirates Health Services' commitment to providing advanced treatments for CLTI patients, ensuring better outcomes and a higher quality of care.
Dr. Khalid Al-Naqbi, Head of the Interventional Radiology Department, also emphasized that this milestone addresses the critical challenge of treating chronic limb ischemia BTK, advancing the UAE’s healthcare system and improving patient outcomes through state-of-the-art medical solutions.