Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi unveils minimally invasive treatment for life-threatening aortic condition

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has just marked a milestone for cardiovascular medicine in the Middle East. The hospital became the first in the region to implant a groundbreaking device designed to treat a rare but deadly condition of the aorta, the body's largest artery. The Thoracic Branch Endoprosthesis (TBE) was deployed in a patient suffering from a complex Type B aortic dissection, a tear that disrupts blood flow and can quickly spiral into a life-threatening emergency.

"This next-generation device allows us to treat life-threatening problems...in a minimally invasive way without the need for an open-chest surgery," said Dr. Houssam Younes, who led the procedure. For patients once deemed too high-risk, this breakthrough is no less than a lifeline.

How does it work?

Instead of opening the chest, surgeons slip the TBE device into the body through a minimally invasive approach. Its design is as clever as it is crucial:

• Branched architecture: Keeps natural blood flow to the brain and left arm intact, sharply lowering stroke risk.
• Custom fit: The device can be tailored to match each patient's anatomy, ensuring a precise seal and reducing the odds of repeat interventions.
• Rapid recovery: Patients avoid the ordeal of open surgery, with shorter ICU stays, earlier mobility, and a faster return to daily life.

By preserving circulation and minimizing trauma, TBE solves the very problems that have long plagued traditional repairs. As Dr. Younes pointed out, it spares patients "the surgical trauma, graft complications, and nerve-related injuries" that typically come with open bypasses.

Why does it matter?

Type B aortic dissection is rare, but when it strikes, it's deadly. Roughly 30-40 percent of all aortic dissections fall into this category, with 25-30 percent of patients dying in hospital if left untreated. Conventional repair methods, though life-saving, have their own risks: covering the left subclavian artery can leave up to 10 percent of patients with strokes or spinal-cord injuries unless extra surgery is performed.

The TBE's branched design removes that gamble. Technical success rates hover above 95 percent, and the 30-day mortality has been reported as low as 2-3 percent. Those numbers matter in a field where every percentage point represents lives spared.

The context

This achievement is not just about one patient. It signals that advanced, high-stakes cardiovascular care is now firmly within reach in the Middle East. As Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, noted, "Successfully performing the Middle East's first TBE implantation and doing so in an emergency setting demonstrates our readiness to deliver cutting-edge cardiovascular care."

With global cases of aortic dissection estimated at 3-4 per 100,000 people each year, and the Middle East facing rising cardiovascular disease rates, the timing could not be more critical. The hospital's success positions it as both a regional leader in minimally invasive procedures and a Centre of Excellence for adult cardiac surgery.

For the UAE and beyond, this is more than a technical triumph — it's proof that the region can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's leading heart centers.