Royal Hospital team qualifies for minimally invasive cardiac surgery

Royal Hospital team qualifies for minimally invasive cardiac surgery

Royal Hospital team qualifies for minimally invasive cardiac surgeryMuscat – A medical team from the National Heart Centre, in Royal Hospital, has been qualified to perform minimally invasive techniques for heart surgeries for the first time in the Sultanate of Oman, avoiding cutting the breastbone (sternum) to reach the heart.

The team for minimally invasive cardiac surgeries is headed by Dr Qasim al Abri, consultant adult cardiac surgeon at Royal Hospital and supervisor of the 12th Forum of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Reassessment Programme of Methodist Hospital, Texas-USA. The team involves members of multi-disciplinary professions, including anesthesia – headed by Dr Ishaq Al Amri, theatre nursing – led by Hamida al Khatri, perfusion technicians – headed by Saleh al Kiyumi, in addition to sterilisation technicians – led by Ali al Jabri.

Minimally invasive heart surgery procedures are performed through one or more small chest incisions. This approach avoids open-heart surgeries and offers less pain, complications, and shorter hospital stays.  

As performing this type of cardiovascular surgery requires significant surgical training, the preparation and training of the staff took a full year. The preparation was supported and supervised by the minister of health. It involved the provision of the required devices, preparation, and