Dubai: A groundbreaking medical achievement occurred at Medcare Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital in Dubai, where a four-year-old UK national girl with Moyamoya disease (MMD), a rare cerebrovascular disorder, underwent life-saving surgery. The child’s condition was critical due to significant narrowing of both carotid arteries, with one artery blocked over 90%.
Dr. Gopalakrishnan CV, Consultant and Head of Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery, and his team successfully performed the first-of-its-kind surgery in the UAE, using the innovative EDAMS technique for indirect revascularization. This approach provided multiple sources for restoring blood flow, eliminating the need for treatment abroad.
Moyamoya disease progressively narrows the internal carotid artery, impacting the brain’s blood supply. While medication offers initial relief, surgical intervention becomes necessary in severe cases.
The patient experienced transient ischemic attacks, leading to slurred speech, facial asymmetry, and arm weakness. MRI and MR angiogram confirmed severe narrowing in both carotid arteries, characteristic of Moyamoya disease.
Considering the severity, the medical team opted for the EDAMS procedure, creating new blood vessels on the brain’s surface using the superficial temporal artery’s branches and a temporalis muscle flap. This innovative technique, along with cranial holes, improved collateral blood flow.
Dr. Gopalakrishnan highlighted the achievement’s significance, as EDAMS was not commonly practiced in the UAE until now, prompting patients to seek treatment abroad. This success represents a remarkable advancement in medical science and technology for the UAE.
The child’s mother expressed profound gratitude for the expert care and dedication of the medical team. Thanks to their skilled intervention, her daughter’s life was saved, promising a brighter future.
Dr. Gopalakrishnan confirmed the patient’s return to a healthy, normal life during the last follow-up visit. This milestone marks a turning point in UAE healthcare, assuring parents that critical medical treatments are available locally.
