NYU Abu Dhabi stent targets 1-3% leak risk after bariatric surgery

New York University Abu Dhabi researchers have developed BRIDGE, a biodegradable 3D-printed gastric stent designed to treat leaks after weight-loss surgery before dissolving inside the body.

The immediate UAE relevance is operational and financial. Dubai bariatric clinics regulated by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Abu Dhabi hospitals regulated by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH), and northern emirates providers regulated by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) already manage a low-frequency but high-cost complication. A device that reduces repeat endoscopy would affect theatre scheduling, insurer approvals and post-operative nutrition pathways.

What NYU Abu Dhabi has built

The device was reported by The National on 27 August 2026. NYU Abu Dhabi said the stent, whose full name is Biodegradable aRchitected Internal DrainaGE, uses an internal lattice and biodegradable material. The university said the design more than doubles drainage performance in testing and could remove the need for a second procedure to retrieve the stent after healing.

"By redesigning the internal architecture of the stent and introducing biodegradable materials, we have tried to tackle key limitations of current devices."
Dr Khalil Ramadi, assistant professor of bioengineering, NYU Abu Dhabi

The project was developed with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, according to The National. That matters because clinical input from a tertiary centre can shorten the path between bench design and hospital workflow design. It does not mean the stent is available for patients. The National reported that further research is required before patient use.

Why clinics and insurers should care

Gastric leaks are uncommon after sleeve gastrectomy, but they are among the complications that change a case from elective surgery to prolonged acute care. Bariatric Times has cited a reported sleeve gastrectomy leak rate of 1% to 3%. A 2022 review in Obesity Surgery reported gastric staple-line leak incidence of 2.1%, with a range of 1.1% to 5.3%.

For CFOs, the cost question starts before the complication. Published UAE package prices show how wide the baseline bariatric market already is. Al Zahra Hospital Dubai lists laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy at AED 29,000, mini gastric bypass at AED 32,000 and diagnostic endoscopy at AED 4,000. Mediclinic Middle East lists a UAE bariatric package at AED 35,000 and revision gastric sleeve at AED 45,000. These are package prices, so operators should obtain insurer-specific pre-authorisation terms rather than use them as complication tariffs.

• COOs should map current leak pathways, including CT access, interventional radiology, endoscopy slots and dietitian follow-up.
• CFOs should separate elective surgery revenue from complication exposure, especially where package exclusions apply.
• Medical directors should track patient-selection criteria once human studies are published.
• CIOs should check whether stent tracking exists in the endoscopy system, because retained-device registers are a recognised safety control.

For insurers such as Daman, Thiqa and Sukoon, the future reimbursement question is narrow: whether a dissolvable device lowers total paid claims by reducing removals, readmissions and prolonged drainage. That case will need UAE or Gulf data, not only laboratory drainage results.

Regulatory and patient implications

BRIDGE would need to clear the UAE medical-device route before routine local sale or hospital adoption. MOHAP remains the federal reference point for medical product regulation, while DHA, DOH and MOHAP licensing rules govern where the procedure is performed and who performs it. Hospitals should ask for the device classification, approved indication, shelf-life, sterilisation data and post-market surveillance obligations before procurement.

Patients should read this as a research signal, not a booking option. Eligibility will depend on leak type, timing, sepsis control, anatomy and the treating surgeon’s endoscopic plan. Nutrition teams also stay central. After bariatric surgery and any leak intervention, patients commonly need staged oral intake, protein targets, micronutrient monitoring and dietitian supervision.

The practical next step for UAE operators is to build a watchlist: publication of the full NYU Abu Dhabi study, first-in-human trial registration, UAE device authorisation, and payer coding decisions. Patients seeking post-bariatric nutrition support can use the UAE Open Healthcare Directory to find licensed nutrition and dietetics providers across the Emirates.