Tawam Hospital establish the first Endoscopic trans-nasal Base of Skull Team in UAE to treat pituitary pathologies.

A breakthrough in the UAE medical history was achieved thanks to our surgeons Dr. Mohammad Al Falasi (Endoscopic sinus and base of skull surgeon) and Dr. Waseem Aziz (Neurosurgeon specialized and trained in Base of Skull Surgery and neurovascular surgery) who have performed an Endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery for the first time in Al Ain city.

Also, thanks to Dr. Khaled Aldahmani from Tawams endocrinology division who has special training in pituitary disorders and was dealing with the hormonal disturbances that resulted from the tumor.

The patient, a 37-year old male married with children had been suffering from enlarged hands and feet as well as excessive sweating. He sought treatment in different hospitals in the UAE without success. The patient was then referred to Tawam Hospital due to its expertise in pituitary disorders.

Pituitary gland produces many hormones and can be affected by many disorders such as tumors. Almost all of these tumors are benign and slow growing. Some of these tumors can be treated by medication and endocrinologists at Tawam Hospital are well experienced in these cases. For some other types, surgery is needed and it has very high success rate.

I am very pleased with the outcome of my treatment at Tawam Hospital. Thanks to all the doctors who took my case and treated me. After my surgery, there was a remarkable difference and was home after three days. I did not have to travel abroad and be away from my family for my procedure, said Ahmad.

The Neurosurgeon and the Otorhinolaryngologist performed a four hand surgery through the nasal cavity and sphenoid sinus located in the middle of the skull. The endoscopic endonasal technique revolutionizes the treatment of pituitary pathology or anterior base of skull tumors with a fast recovery and no scars. Being able to conduct this treatment here in the UAE means there is no longer a need for patients to travel abroad.

This procedure allows fast recovery after having brain surgery. Patients with pituitary pathology and anterior base of skull tumors could be referred and treated in Tawam Hospital successfully by an endonasal approach with little morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, our multi-disciplinary teams approach to choose the best treatment for those patients gives the best results, said Dr. Al Falasi.

Our goal is to develop a state of the art Head and Neck Oncology center in Tawam Hospital, added Dr. Al Falasi.

Tawam Hospital, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine and the SEHA healthcare system, has a highly-qualified multidisciplinary team, Endocrinology, Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery with special interest in Base of skull surgery, dedicated to finding the best treatment modality for pituitary tumors.

We knew that there was a need for this procedure. With the support of the Abu Dhabi government, Tawam Hospital has been able to bring world-class healthcare to the local community, said Dr Al Dahmani.

Dr. Mohammad Bin Lahij Al Falasi, ENT Consultant at Tawam Hospital, has completed fellowships in Head and Neck Oncology, microvascular flaps and Base of Skull Surgery in France and Canada. Dr. Khaled Mohammed Al Dahmani, Consultant Endocrinologist, has completed fellowships and certifications specializing in pituitary disorders and endocrinology in Canada. Dr Waseem Aziz is a neurosurgeon in Tawam Hospital and has completed fellowship training in Base of Skull surgery, neurovascular surgery and neurointerventional radiology from France and Japan. Dr. Amr El Shawarbi is the chair of Tawam Hospitals Neurosurgery division and has introduced Spinal Surgery, Epilepsy Surgery, Skull Base Surgery and Oncology Surgery to the hospital. Together, they used their combined expertise to introduce this novel technique to the UAE.

We are very proud of our team that constantly strives to innovate and save peoples lives. Due to the strong talent and dedication at Tawam Hospital, we are able to deliver the best care and treatment to the community, said Dr. El Shawarbi who is also Co-Medical Director of the SEHA Neurosciences Council.

Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA Health System owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.