Opening of a specialized kidney stone clinic at King Fahd University Hospital
In a move reflecting the ongoing development of the healthcare system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Fahd University Hospital in Al-Khobar, affiliated with Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, announced the launch of a specialized and comprehensive clinic for the treatment of kidney and urinary tract stones. This step comes in response to the growing need for precise medical services to address complex and recurrent cases of stone formation, particularly those resulting from metabolic disorders.
Integrated model of healthcare
The new clinic is distinguished by its adoption of a modern medical model based on the integration of subspecialties. The clinic is managed through a collaborative effort between the departments of Internal Medicine and Urology. This medical facility is overseen by Professor Abdullah Al-Huwaish, Professor of Nephrology, and Dr. Hatem Al-Dhibyani, Consultant in Kidney Stone Surgery, Endoscopy, and Robotic Surgery. This collaboration aims to combine expertise to provide a unified treatment plan that addresses both surgical and preventative aspects simultaneously.
The importance of the clinic in the local and regional context
This step is particularly important given the prevalence of kidney stones in the region. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries have high rates of kidney stones due to hot climates and lifestyle. Patients often suffer from recurrent stones, requiring medical intervention that goes beyond simply removing the stone to identifying the underlying causes and preventing its recurrence. Therefore, the opening of this clinic represents a significant advancement that will help alleviate the burden on the healthcare system and reduce waiting lists for recurrent surgeries.
Focus on metabolic causes and prevention
The clinic's staff explained that the treatment strategy relies primarily on accurately diagnosing the metabolic causes that lead to salt crystallization and stone formation. Based on detailed analyses, personalized treatment and prevention programs are developed for each patient, including dietary modifications and medication, which help maintain long-term kidney function and reduce the likelihood of kidney failure resulting from recurrent blockages.
A comprehensive administrative and medical vision
Commenting on this achievement, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Salam Yousef, Executive Director of King Fahd University Hospital, affirmed that the clinic represents an extension of the hospital's mission to adopt the latest evidence-based medical practices. He pointed out that the shift towards highly specialized care enhances the quality of life for patients and aligns with the goals of developing the healthcare sector in the Kingdom.
For his part, Dr. Hatem Al-Dhibyani stressed that the clinic’s ultimate goal is to move from the concept of “treating the stone” to “treating the patient,” emphasizing that the partnership between kidney doctors and urologists provides an ideal environment for early diagnosis and effective intervention, which reduces health complications and long-term treatment costs.
It is worth mentioning that King Fahd University Hospital is one of the leading medical and academic institutions in the Eastern Province, and the opening of this clinic comes as part of a series of expansions and quality services launched by the hospital to serve the local community according to the highest international standards.
