Wedoany.com Report on Feb 5th, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi recently successfully performed the UAE's first robotic-assisted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) surgery, providing a new technological pathway for the diagnosis and treatment of complex epilepsy. The hospital had previously performed non-robotic-assisted SEEG surgeries, and with the introduction of robotic technology this time, the precision, safety, and efficiency of the procedure have all been improved. To date, the hospital has completed three surgeries using this technology.
Traditional SEEG surgery typically employs a frame-based method, which requires the installation of a rigid head frame on the patient's skull to guide electrode placement. This process can cause discomfort for the patient and is time-consuming. In contrast, robotic-assisted SEEG is a minimally invasive procedure that involves implanting thin electrodes into specific areas of the brain to monitor electrical activity and locate the origin of seizures. This method not only improves surgical precision but also reduces patient discomfort and helps shorten recovery time.
Robotic-assisted SEEG is particularly valuable for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Conventional non-invasive diagnostic tools such as scalp EEG, MRI, and PET-CT sometimes fail to provide sufficient detail. The robotic system, however, can achieve millimeter-level accuracy in planning and executing electrode placement, thereby reducing surgical risk and enhancing diagnostic accuracy. Once the seizure origin is identified, the medical team can develop a personalized treatment plan based on this information to promote long-term disease control.
This surgery was led by Dr. Florian Roser and completed in collaboration with a team of epilepsy experts, including Dr. Tanmoy Maiti, Dr. Mohamad Ayman Haykal, and Dr. Eugene Achi, ensuring coordinated and optimized diagnostic and treatment processes.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Neurological Institute continues to strengthen its regional influence in the field of advanced neurological diagnostics. The hospital's Level 4 Epilepsy Center provides intensive monitoring, comprehensive evaluation, and a range of epilepsy surgical interventions, including intracranial electrode surgery.
