Muscat: Royal Hospital recently launched a medical thoracoscopy service-an advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedure that has been applied as part of the hospital's drive in expanding high-precision services to tackle respiratory diseases.

According to Oman News Agency, Dr. Yaqoub Salam Al Hadhrami, Senior Consultant and Head of the Unit of Respiratory Diseases at Royal Hospital, stated that the launch of the new service paves the way for performing this type of procedure at a rate of 2 to 4 cases per week.

Dr. Yaqoub explained that the procedure emerges as an endoscopic service that eliminates the need for surgery, minimizes a patient's stay at the hospital to only a few hours, and involves minimal anaesthesia with an incision of 2-3 cm. This is in contrast to surgical endoscopy, which requires a patient to stay several days in the hospital under full anaesthesia.

He emphasized that the most common cases benefiting from this procedure include the diagnosis of lung or pleural diseases of unknown cause. The introduction of thoracoscopy is considered a milestone in the level of services rendered to respiratory system patients in the Sultanate of Oman. The medical technology adds momentum to Royal Hospital's repertory of advanced specialized services, said Dr. Yaqoub, noting that the procedure enhances the accuracy of diagnosis and provides ideal options for the treatment of various pleural and lung diseases.

Dr. Yaqoub highlighted that Royal Hospital is the first government hospital in the Sultanate of Oman to begin offering this advanced procedure (thoracoscopy), which will contribute to the integration of different health institutions and modern medical technologies. The launch of thoracoscopy is a step forward in enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities, offering a range of advanced medical options to patients and supporting the efficiency of healthcare.