ABU DHABI: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has successfully conducted the first combined heart and double lung transplant in the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant advancement in the country's medical capabilities. The groundbreaking procedure was carried out on a 56-year-old Emirati woman with pulmonary hypertension, a critical condition characterized by high pressure in the pulmonary artery, disrupting blood flow between the heart and lungs. According to Emirates News Agency, this medical milestone was achieved with the support of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH), aligning with Abu Dhabi's aim to establish itself as a leading healthcare destination. Since its establishment in 2017, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has performed over 700 transplants, including 47 lung transplants and 23 heart transplants. The patient's health challenges began in 2004, leading to her referral to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in March 2022. Despite various therapeutic strategies, her condition deteriorated, prompting a multidisciplinary team to recommend a complex surgical intervention. The team determined that the patient required not only a lung transplant but also a heart transplant due to the severe enlargement of her heart. Dr. Mitesh V. Badiwala, a Staff Physician in Cardiothoracic Surgery, explained that the patient's condition was particularly challenging due to her petite frame and severely enlarged heart, necessitating the combined transplant. By February 2024, her condition had stopped responding to medication, with severe symptoms threatening her survival within months without surgery. Dr. Nadya Almatrooshi highlighted the collaborative efforts of multidisciplinary teams to manage the patient's condition until suitable organs were available. The planning involved specialists from various fields, including cardiology, pulmonology, and thoracic surgery, ensuring meticulous coordination for the transplant. Dr. Usman Ahmad, Chair of the Department of Thoracic Surgery, emphasized the uniqueness of their programme, noting the short wait times and access to appropriately size-matched organs. He credited the guidance of the DoH and collaboration with Hayat for their success in maintaining short ischemic times, which contributed to outstanding survival results. Dr. Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi of the DoH noted the consistent increase in organ transplant procedures since the launch of the National Programme for Donation and Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues in 2017, with over 800 operations completed by the end of 2023, significantly impacting patient lives.