KUWAIT CITY, Oct 18: In a landmark medical achievement, Kuwait’s Ministry of Health (MoH) announced Thursday the successful completion of a rare cerebral arteries bypass surgery on a Kuwaiti citizen in his forties, who had fallen into a deep coma following a sudden stroke.

The intricate procedure, performed at Ibn Sina Hospital, was led by neurosurgeon Dr. Faisal Al-Bader and resulted in the restoration of blood flow to both the right and left hemispheres of the patient’s brain. According to a press statement from the ministry, the patient has made a gradual recovery, regained full neurological function, and returned to normal life.

The ministry described the operation as a significant national medical accomplishment, underscoring Kuwait’s progress in advanced surgical specialties.

The patient was diagnosed with Moyamoya disease, a rare and progressive condition that causes the narrowing of cerebral arteries, drastically reducing blood flow to the brain and leading to recurrent strokes. The ministry noted that the majority of Moyamoya cases are typically found in Japan and some other Asian countries, where the condition poses a considerable challenge due to the complexity of required surgical intervention.

Dr. Al-Bader highlighted that such cases were previously treated abroad, but this operation reflects the growing capabilities within Kuwait. “Today we have reached this level of efficiency in Kuwait and are offering advanced treatment with results that rival international centers,” he said, expressing pride in the achievement and confidence in the country’s healthcare system.

The procedure drew international attention at the recent European Congress of Cerebrovascular Surgery held in Marseille, France. Dr. Al-Bader presented the case during a scientific session focused on the latest surgical techniques in cerebrovascular treatment, fostering knowledge exchange with leading surgeons from around the world.

Serbian neurosurgical consultant Dr. Dragan Savic, who resides in Kuwait, praised the accomplishment, stating, “Such complex operations are typically performed only in advanced medical centers worldwide, such as the Zurich Center in Switzerland, a global reference in Moyamoya surgeries.”

Dr. Al-Bader expressed gratitude to Minister of Health Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi and Undersecretary Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi for their unwavering support and provision of essential resources, which he said were vital to this medical success.

Dr. Al-Bader, a graduate of Kuwait University, earned his neurosurgical credentials from Aix-Marseille University in France and is Board-Certified. He further specialized in skull base and cerebrovascular surgery and pursued advanced training in spinal operations. His work now focuses on managing complex neurosurgical cases in Kuwait, contributing to the country’s growing expertise in this critical field.