• The two-week-old infant was diagnosed with a rare and complex congenital heart defect known as Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage (TAPVD)

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), part of SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East, has marked a significant achievement in paediatric cardiac care with the successful treatment of a two-week-old infant diagnosed with a rare and complex congenital heart defect. The condition, known as Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage (TAPVD), affects fewer than one in 10,000 newborns.

The young patient, Saleh, was admitted to SKMC, the Centre of Excellence for Paediatric Cardiac surgery by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, at just three days old, with respiratory failure due the condition in which pulmonary veins misconnect, leading to inadequate oxygenation and increased cardiac strain. Under the expertise of Dr Mohammad Daud Khan, Consultant Cardiologist, and Dr Benedict Rajkumar, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon, a multidisciplinary team performed a critical open-heart surgery to correct the defect, highlighting the team's unparalleled expertise and dedication.

"Performing open-heart surgeries, especially on very young infants, presents a significant challenge. However, the collective expertise and dedication of our cardiac team, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and paediatric cardiac intensivists, have been instrumental in achieving this success. We successfully rerouted the pulmonary veins to the left side of the heart through a meticulous five-hour surgery," explained Dr Rajkumar.

"Our leading paediatric heart programme stands as a pillar of hope for families not just in the UAE, but globally. The unwavering commitment and expertise of our surgical teams have been key to saving more than 5,000 young lives in the past 16 years, ensuring ongoing care for heart patients and their families," said Dr Muna Al Hammadi, Chief Medical Officer at SKMC.

Following a successful surgery and recovery period, the patient was discharged in stable condition four weeks post-operation. As the largest paediatric medical centre in the UAE, this marks another milestone for SKMC, highlighting its leading role in paediatric cardiac care within the UAE and showcasing its commitment to the highest standards of medical excellence and patient-centric care.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi recently appointed SKMC as a centre of excellence for paediatric cardiac surgery. This recognition is based on SKMC's outstanding infrastructure, highly skilled workforce, multidisciplinary resources, cutting-edge technologies, and its contribution to healthcare innovation and clinical and scientific research.

Through its subsidiaries, including SEHA, PureHealth is spearheading healthcare innovation, offering unparalleled medical services. This steadfast commitment is positioning Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a premier destination for healthcare, solidifying its status as a global leader in medical excellence and pioneering healthcare solutions.

About Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC)

Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) is a flagship tertiary hospital in the UAE and the largest teaching medical center in Abu Dhabi.

SKMC comprises of a 441-bed acute care hospital and 16 Outpatient Specialty Clinics. Additionally, SKMC manages a Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory (BSL3) and a 125-bed Behavioral Sciences Pavilion, the largest mental care facility that provides adults and pediatric services.

The hospital has pioneered multiple innovative medical technologies locally and regionally, establishing itself as a market leader and setting new benchmarks for the sector. Major achievements include; the first Transplant Center in the UAE and the sole provider of pediatric transplant services in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the largest Cardiac Science program for pediatrics and the only Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Program in Abu Dhabi.

Focusing on our young population we lead an exceptional healthcare for both inpatients and outpatients. As the largest pediatric Medical center in the UAE, SKMC offer unique specialties such as Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Metabolic Disorders and Pediatric Minimally Invasive Procedures. SKMC also has the largest Pediatric Critical Care Unit and the largest Pediatric Emergency Department in UAE.

SKMC is committed to providing exceptional adult surgical and medical services in its inpatient and outpatient facilities. SKMC also offers distinguished multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Services through its Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation institute.

About SEHA

SEHA is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company operates a big number of the public hospitals and clinics of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. SEHA is a PureHealth asset, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East.

SEHA is committed to the continuous improvement of customer care to recognised international standards, and providing the community with world-class healthcare. SEHA operates 14 hospitals with over 3,000 beds, 70 ambulatory care, family care and urgent care centres, and three blood banks. Its facilities accommodate 117,162 inpatients annually, conducting 43,262 surgeries, and treat more than 5 million outpatients.

SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East, with more than 14,000 doctors, nurses, ancillary care, and administrative personnel. Learn more at www.seha.ae

To find out more about SEHA’s specialised clinic, or book an appointment, call 80050 or visit SEHA.ae. You can also book an appointment through the SEHA mobile app, or WhatsApp 02 410 2200.

About PureHealth

By advancing the Science of Longevity, PureHealth is introducing the healthcare of the future from the United Arab Emirates to the rest of the world. PureHealth is the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East with an ecosystem that challenges lifespans and reimagines health spans. With 100+ hospitals, 300+ clinics, multiple diagnostic centres, health insurance solutions, pharmacies, health tech, procurement, investments and more, its groundbreaking innovations are at the forefront of healthcare as the company is on a mission to unlock time for humankind.

Pure Health’s network comprises: 

  • SEHA – One of the largest healthcare networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE
  • Ambulatory Healthcare Services (AHS) - Delivering comprehensive community-based healthcare services
  • Daman (The National Health Insurance Company) – The UAE’s leading health insurer
  • The Medical Office – Overseeing Sheikh Khalifa Hospitals and healthcare facilities established under the initiatives of H.H. The President of the UAE
  • Rafed – The UAE’s largest healthcare Group Purchasing Organisation
  • PureLab – Managing and operating the largest network of laboratories in the region 
  • One Health – A network that provides end-to-end medical solutions to a base of over 300 healthcare service providers
  • The Life Corner – Abu Dhabi’s first holistic pharmacy, serving the health and wellness establishment
  • Ardent Health Services – The fourth largest privately held acute care hospital operator in the US
  • Circle Health Group – The largest independent operators of hospitals in the UK
  • PureCS - A leading cloud and technology services provider, specialising in IT management and consulting solutions, cybersecurity, cloud services and AI information systems
  • Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) – The UAE’s largest healthcare complex, delivering integrated complex care

To learn more, please visit www.purehealth.ae