Tamil Nadu Govt. Multi – Super Speciality Hospital, Chennai performs first ever Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) by a State Govt. hospital in India

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital (TNGMSSH), a leading government owned super speciality hospital in Chennai, performed the first ever robotic assisted surgery by a state government owned hospital in India. This complicated robotic-assisted surgery performed by using Da Vinci RAS technology on a 44 year old plumbing worker from Tirupattur district, who was diagnosed with ureter transitional carcinoma with renal obstruction, was led by leading Urologists, Dr R Jayaganesh, Dr N Ragavan (Proctor Surgeon), and Dr L Parthasarathy (Chief Anaesthetist), last month. The patient had a remarkably speedy recovery and was discharged from the hospital on the second post-operative day.

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Mr. M.K.Stalin had inaugurated the first ever advanced robotic surgery centre by a state govt. owned hospital in India at TNGMSSH, earlier this year. While Central govt. institutions have acquired such advanced facility, this is the first state govt. hospital in India to have such a centre and to successfully perform robotic-assisted surgery.

The 44 year old patient visited the Urology Outpatient department with complaints of passing blood stained urine, left sided abdominal pain radiating to left thigh and loss of appetite. Preliminary Diagnostic Ureteroscopy & Biopsy revealed a high grade Urothelial carcinoma of the left Ureter with obstruction of left kidney and anaemia.

Managing such cases for the past 26 years, Dr R Jayaganesh, Urologist, Multi Super-Speciality hospital, who performed the surgery said, “We decided to perform Radical Nephro Ureterectomy using Robotic-Assisted System provided to us by Govt. of Tamilnadu. Using this novel technology, we could address the complex anatomy and tumour involvement judiciously. In terms of technical feasibility, safety and long term oncological outcomes, we found this approach as a viable alternative to open surgery. This Minimally Invasive Surgical option enables faster patient recovery and early discharge. Following the surgery, the patient was ambulant with good well-being and was on normal diet and fluid intake without much need of pain relieving injections or prolonged bed rest, demonstrating the unique advantages of Robot Assisted Surgery. In view of shorter hospital stay, the cost becomes comparable to laparoscopic or open surgery which need 7-14 days hospital stay.”

Talking about the procedure, Dr N Ragavan, Uro-oncologist & Robotic Surgeon, Apollo hospitals, said “We are thankful to the Tamilnadu Govt. for the installation of Da Vinci Xi (dual console), the most advanced system at TNGMSSH. Since it is the first installation of RAS in a state govt. hospital serving the common man, it would benefit them a lot. Robotic-assisted surgery, in my opinion is a significant medical innovation. In view of its inherent technological advantages, the da Vinci Xi system brings much technical ease in Robotic-Assisted Surgery. Because of its 3 dimensional vision, enhanced dexterity, depth perception and intuitive movements, patients with urological malignancies will benefit greatly from these procedures.”

Following the launch, the centre is being used by the Departments of Urology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Surgical Oncology, Endocrine Surgery, and Cardiothoracic Surgery. The centre has successfully completed 10 Robotic Surgeries till date with very good patient acceptance and recovery.