The Asian Vattikuti Institute of Robotic Surgery and the Asian Heart Institute have acquired the most advanced surgical robot in Asia at the cost of $2.5 million. The first robot-assisted surgery will be conducted within the month. Robotic arm assisted surgeries are minimally invasive and said to have better results than conventional surgeries.
Dr Suresh Joshi from Fortis Hospital in Mulund, Mumbai explained that in conventional surgery, the body has to be injured first to treat the bigger problem within. But with robot-assisted surgery, only the most necessary cuts and moves will be made on the body. He added that with the robotic arms, there are no unnecessary movements, no extra bleeding, a faster recovery and no scars.
Dr Vijay D’Silva, medical director, Asian Heart Institute said that on Wednesday, Dr Ramakanta Panda, the prime minister’s surgeon, demonstrated the country’s most advanced robot for minimally invasive surgery. He added that they have a tie-up with Vattikuti Foundation, which is a philanthropic organisation based in Michigan, US. They also trained robotic surgeons for cardiac and non-cardiac surgeries. Dr Panda will be involved with cardiac robotic surgeries.
As of now there are a handful of experts in the country who are familiar with robot assisted surgical procedures. A number of doctors have been sent to France to learn the technique. Experts feel that robotic surgery will become the norm in about 15 years time.
Senior laparoscopic surgeon Dr MM Begani of Bombay hospital, said that robotic surgery will be more beneficial in complex surgeries that cannot be done using traditional procedures like laparoscopic. Robotic surgery will be useful for removal of prostate, cardio-thoracic surgery and in gynaecology for minimal invasive surgery.