Tabuk Health Cluster Successfully Performs First Advanced CERAB Procedures to Reopen Aorta and Iliac Arteries

Riyadh: The interventional radiology team at King Fahad Specialist Hospital, affiliated with Tabuk Health Cluster, successfully performed the first two procedures of their kind using the advanced Covered Endovascular Reconstruction of the Aortic Bifurcation (CERAB) technique to reconstruct the aorta and iliac arteries in two patients suffering from chronic total occlusion of the aorta and the main iliac arteries supplying the lower limbs. According to Saudi Press Agency, the two patients were referred to the interventional radiology department after experiencing severe leg pain and difficulty walking that affected their daily activities. Examinations and CT scans revealed complete occlusion of the aorta and iliac arteries, with only limited blood flow continuing through collateral vessels. The cluster said the interventional radiology team evaluated both cases and decided to proceed with treatment under the supervision of interventional radiology consultants Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi and Dr. Khaled Shehat a. During the procedures, the team successfully reopened the blocked arteries and implanted covered stents using the CERAB technique, one of the most advanced methods used worldwide to reconstruct the aorta and its bifurcation into the iliac arteries, effectively restoring blood flow. The procedures successfully restored full blood flow through the aorta and iliac arteries and significantly improved circulation to the lower limbs. Both patients were discharged in good health following the successful procedures without notable complications. The achievement reflects the continued advancement of specialized healthcare services within Tabuk Health Cluster and its adoption of the latest treatment technologies, contributing to enhanced healthcare quality, improved quality of life for beneficiaries, and reduced need for major surgical interventions.