Kuwaiti doctors achieve outstanding accomplishments regionally and globally
Kuwaiti doctors continue to demonstrate exceptional professional competence and specialized development through their achievements in delicate surgeries, innovations, and distinguished medical research. Over the past years, several Kuwaiti doctors have achieved remarkable accomplishments regionally and internationally, leaving a significant impact on global medical development.
Remote robotic surgery sets global record
In April 2025, Kuwait achieved an unprecedented feat in medical history. The Ministry of Health successfully performed five consecutive remote robotic surgeries on patients within Kuwait, all suffering from cancerous tumors in the kidney and prostate. Utilizing "teleroptic surgery" technology, these procedures were conducted with real-time medical participation from specialists located over 7,000 kilometers away. This accomplishment set a new world record for the largest number of consecutive remote robotic surgeries performed in such a short period.
Advancements in organ transplantation
In September 2024, Kuwait marked a significant advancement in organ transplantation. The Ministry of Health successfully conducted the country's first kidney transplant exchange between families, coinciding with the launch of the National Kidney Transplant Exchange Program. This initiative aims to enhance organ transplant services, reduce waiting times, and improve success rates.
Innovative surgical procedures
Throughout 2023 and 2024, Kuwaiti medical teams have introduced several groundbreaking surgical techniques:
Glaucoma Surgery: In August 2024, Dr. Abdullah Al-Kandari performed a delicate surgery to treat glaucoma, a significant addition to the field of precision medicine for this disease, which is considered one of the most dangerous eye diseases.
Aneurysm repair: In July 2024, Dr. Abdullah Al-Fawaz led a team at Mubarak Hospital to perform the first operation in the Middle East to repair aneurysms in the thoracic aortic arch. This surgery involved surgically modifying a stent to fit the size and branches of a patient's arteries and then implanting it via catheterization.
Lymphedema surgeries: In December 2023, Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital announced the success of several complex surgeries for lymphedema patients for the first time in Kuwait during a four-day workshop conducted by national experts under the supervision of Professor JB Hong from South Korea.
Smart mesh hernia repair: In June 2023, Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital used, for the first time in Kuwait, a smart mesh designed to repair incisional hernias and reconstruct the abdominal wall of patients suffering from advanced hernias.
Artificial heart pump implantation: In June 2023, the Ministry of Health announced the successful implantation of the first artificial heart pump in Kuwait, the second in the Arab world, for a citizen in his sixties.
Rare kidney transplant and urinary tract reconstruction: In May 2023, a Kuwaiti surgical team performed a rare kidney transplant and urinary tract reconstruction for a 29-year-old man using a globally rare type of kidney transplant.
Fluorescent tracking in cancer surgery: In the same month, a Kuwaiti medical team successfully used fluorescent tracking of sentinel glands and a gamma camera during a laparoscopic hysterectomy to treat endometrial cancer, a medical achievement considered the first of its kind in Kuwait.
Pediatric neurosurgeries: In March 2023, Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital performed five pediatric neurosurgeries, including a first-of-its-kind surgery in Kuwait. This surgery was performed on nerves in the back area to relieve muscle strain and aid movement in a child.
"Hidden Tummy Tuck" plastic surgery: In January 2023, Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital introduced a new plastic surgery method, performing three surgeries in one operation through collaborative surgeons from more than one specialty. This new method, first in Kuwait and the Middle East, was named the "hidden tummy tuck" by Dr. Hamoud Al-Rashidi.
Double hip and knee replacement: In the same month, the hospital announced the success of a double hip and knee replacement surgery for the first time in Kuwait. This surgery was performed on an 82-year-old patient who was suffering from pain resulting from a hip fracture and severe knee osteoarthritis.
Technological innovations in diagnostics
In November 2022, Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital successfully performed the first gastrointestinal endoscopy using artificial intelligence to accurately identify colon and stomach tumors using a technology first applied in Kuwait.
Advancements in vascular surgery
In April 2022, Dr. Abdullah Al-Fawaz, a consultant vascular and general surgeon at Mubarak Hospital, successfully performed the first catheter-assisted abdominal aortic aneurysm treatment using an intravenous ultrasound. This new technique is being used for the first time in Kuwait as an alternative to intravenous contrast, which can cause complications in some kidney patients.
Cardiac innovations
In February 2021, a medical team at the Chest Diseases Hospital, including Drs. Khaled Al-Marri, Ibrahim Al-Rashdan, Khaled Boursali, and Dhirar Al-Khudair, successfully performed a unique, precise catheterization procedure—the first of its kind in Kuwait and the Middle East—on a patient in his eighties.
In November 2020, a Kuwaiti medical team successfully performed a cardiac catheterization on a 40-year-old patient suffering from blockage in all coronary arteries and acute liver and kidney failure. The procedure was performed using a new technique being applied for the first time in the Middle East, despite the estimated mortality rate during routine catheterization procedures being approximately 70 percent.
Liver transplant milestones
In the same month of the same year, a Kuwaiti medical team at Al-Adan Hospital announced the success of the first liver transplant for a citizen in her sixties.
Pediatric ECMO treatment
In June 2020, a Kuwaiti medical team announced the success of treating a child infected with the Coronavirus using an ECMO device, which is not usually used in children.
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