Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi performs the UAE’s first robotic SEEG procedure

In a quiet operating theatre in Abu Dhabi, a new chapter is being written in how the brain reveals its secrets. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has successfully performed the UAE's first robotic-assisted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) procedure, offering a leap forward in epilepsy diagnostics.

The shift from manual frame-based methods to robot guidance isn't just technology for technology's sake. It promises patients a gentler, more precise route to answers when seizures defy easy explanation. Since adopting this approach, the hospital has completed several procedures, demonstrating real momentum behind the idea of robots for delicate brain work.

How did it work?

Robotic SEEG is a minimally invasive way to locate seizure origins deep inside the brain.

• Thin electrodes are implanted in targeted regions to record electrical activity.
• A robot guides these placements with millimetric accuracy that human hands alone can't match.
• This replaces older, frame-based techniques that strapped a rigid frame to the skull and made the process more uncomfortable and slower for patients.

Doctors say the robotic system provides a 3D view and precise control, reducing the guesswork and risk in planning electrode paths. Once the source of seizures is identified, clinicians can design tailored treatment plans to control seizures in the long term.

Why does it matter?

Epilepsy is stubborn in about one-third of patients. Standard non-invasive tests like scalp EEG and MRI often fall short when seizures come from complex areas of the brain. Robotic SEEG fills a critical gap by offering:

• Better accuracy in pinpointing the seizure onset zone.
• Less discomfort and faster recovery for patients compared to older methods.
• A smarter planning tool for surgeons tackling drug-resistant epilepsy.

Dr Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, put it plainly: "We are giving people with epilepsy access to safer, more precise diagnostics that can change the course of their care." It's not just tech bragging. This work could transform lives by shifting the needle from uncertainty to informed treatment choices.

The context

This milestone sits within a broader wave of innovation at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. The hospital has pushed robotics into organ transplants, cancer surgery, and now neurology, reinforcing Abu Dhabi's reputation as a hub for cutting-edge care.

Epilepsy diagnosis used to be a grind of tests and approximations. Now, robots bring a new level of confidence to the detection of trouble spots deep in the brain. Dr Florian Roser, Chief Medical Officer at the Neurological Institute, highlighted that the robotic SEEG approach is "smarter and smoother," allowing customization to each brain's unique layout.

It also reflects a broader global trend. Hospitals around the world are tapping robotics in ever-more complex procedures, pushing medicine toward less invasive, more precise care. In this light, the UAE's first robotic SEEG feels like the first domino falling as neurology joins other specialties in the robotic revolution.