Sidra Medicine Heart Center operates on first international patient

Doha, Qatar: Sidra Medicine treated its first international patient at the newly opened Heart Center last month, ushering in an era of reverse medical tourism for the institution. Sidra Medicine is set to create a regional center of excellence in pediatric and congenital cardiology, building on the strength of its international team, state-of-the-art equipment and specialty expertise in children’s and adult congenital health.  

The 29-day-old patient was flown to Qatar from Kuwait for an emergency operation to correct a heart defect that left her heart unable to properly pump blood throughout her body. Born prematurely, the baby girl weighed just 1.3 kgs at the time of the operation which took two hours. She will need to return to Sidra Medicine for a series of procedures over the coming months to correct the defect.  

Led by Dr. Olivier Ghez, Division Chief of Cardiac Surgery, and supported by a team of many Sidra Medicine experts, the successful operation opens up possibilities for regional patients in need of Sidra Medicine’s specialist expertise who can now access care closer to home. Patients in Qatar and the region now have access to state-of-the-art equipment and an international team of experts able to perform the most complex cardiological procedures in a familiar cultural setting with a team who speak their language.

“The entire Heart Center team feels incredibly grateful to have been entrusted with the care of our smallest patient to date. We would like to thank the family and the Kuwait Oil Company for entrusting a precious life into our care. We have built an incredibly close and fruitful partnership with colleagues in Kuwait who have been instrumental in enabling Kuwaiti patients to access care at Sidra Medicine. We look forward to working closely together in the future,” said Prof. Ziyad M. Hijazi, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Director of the Heart Center.

The Sidra Medicine Heart Center offers a wide range of services including cardiac surgery, interventional therapies, electrophysiological therapies, cardiac anesthesia, perfusion, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), cardiac intensive care, non-invasive cardiology, outpatient and inpatient cardiac care, as well as fetal cardiology.

The Heart Center is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities designed to enable clinical teams to achieve the highest standard of care and the best possible experience for patients and their caregivers.

• Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Labs: Sidra Medicine currently has three cardiac catehterizations suites. One of the rooms is dedicated to advanced electrophysiological procedures with 3D mapping equipment. Another room is a Siemens hybrid suite equipped with an advanced catheterization machine in an operating room environment. This room, which is the only one of its kind in the Middle East, enables the team to work hand-in-hand on complex cases that will require open-chest surgery and interventional therapy at the same time.
• Cardiac Operating Theater: Among the many operating theaters at Sidra Medicine, one room is dedicated to cardiac surgical procedures. This room is equipped with the lastest technology to enable surgeons to perform the most complex operations on the tiniest of patients.
• Non-Invasive Imaging: The Heart Center has ample space to see nine patients simultaneously. Each room has a state-of-the-art Philips IE33 echo machine. Further, the center has a high-tech Exercise Laboratory which enables the team to assess cardiac patients and evaluate their abilities to enroll in athletic activites.

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About Sidra Medicine

Sidra Medicine provides specialized healthcare to women, children, and young people from Qatar and around the world.  

Established by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, Sidra Medicine embraces best practice medical education, innovative biomedical and clinical research and discovery, and exceptional patient and family focused care.

Sidra Medicine provides comprehensive specialist healthcare services for children and young people, as well as maternity and gynecology care for women. Some of its unique children’s specialist services include Cardiology, Neurology, Urology and Plastics & Craniofacial Reconstruction. It is also currently the only specialist center in the country that treats and cares for pregnant women with fetal complications.

The ultramodern healthcare organization is a testament to Qatar’s pioneering spirit and sustained commitment to its human and social development.

To access Sidra Medicine services, and learn more about our contribution to global healthcare, education and research, please visit www.sidra.org .  

© Press Release 2018