Abu Dhabi surgeons use robotic surgery to prevent inherited colon cancer

Surgeons at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi have successfully performed a complex, fully robotic surgery to prevent colon cancer in a 37-year-old woman with a rare inherited condition.

The patient was admitted to the hospital to treat Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), a genetic disorder that carries a near-100% lifetime risk of developing colon cancer if left untreated.

The procedure highlights advances in robotic-assisted surgery, allowing surgeons to perform technically demanding operations with greater precision and control. In this case, the technology enabled surgeons to navigate the narrow pelvic cavity, where delicate nerves responsible for urinary and bowel function can be difficult to preserve.

The operation also reflects a broader shift in healthcare from treating diseases after they develop to identifying risks and intervening earlier.

“This is what healthcare should look like, where we move beyond treating disease to anticipating and preventing it. When we combine early insight with the precision of robotics, we don’t just change outcomes; we change the trajectory of a patient’s life,” said Dr. John H. Rodriguez, Institute Chief of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Digestive Disease Institute.

“Innovation empowers us to act with precision, purpose, and compassion. This is the future we are advancing every day,” Rodriguez added.

In this case, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), which causes polyps to develop in the colon over time, almost always progresses to colorectal cancer without preventative surgery. It highlights the critical importance of proactive genetic testing, early diagnosis, and intervention. The patient, who had a strong family history of colon cancer, was diagnosed with FAP early last year, following specialist evaluation and colonoscopy. Despite experiencing only mild symptoms, her underlying cancer risk was absolute and preventable with timely surgical intervention.

“With Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, colon cancer is not a matter of ‘if’ but ‘when’,” said Dr. Ali Al Jaberi, Staff Physician, Colorectal Surgery at the Digestive Disease Institute in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, highlighting the significance of early preventative procedures to remove the cancer before it develops into a life-threatening diagnosis.
“The robotic approach is especially beneficial for young patients with FAP, helping them return to full, active lives with the best possible outcomes,” he added.

After the first surgery, the patient underwent a second procedure to reverse the temporary ileostomy. According to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, the patient has recovered well and has since returned to a nearly normal lifestyle with her son and family.

The surgery highlights how advances in robotic technology are expanding treatment options in Abu Dhabi, allowing surgeons to perform complex preventive procedures on high-risk patients while preserving their long-term quality of life.