The Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital and Research Institute (MGCHRI) will introduce a new advanced robotic surgery technology through its new multidisciplinary vertical.
Explaining about the technology, surgical oncologist Murali Krishna Voonna, who is also the MD of MGCHRI, says the doctors will perform the procedures through a console and miniature tool-mounted robotic arms.
Claiming that the technology for which a equipment costing ₹8 crore is being introduced is the first of its kind in the State, Dr. Murali Krishna said the surgery would be precise using the high-end technology, magnification and tremor-filter that would eliminate the scope for human error. Compared to laparoscopic procedure, there would be less pain, less bleeding and incision of 3 mm to 5mm and the patient could be discharged in three days, he said, adding that it would be useful in cancer surgeries. However, other procedures including in urology, gynaecology, gastroenterology and bariatric and cardiothoracic surgeries could also be performed. As of now, five doctors of the institute have been trained in using the new facility.
However, trained doctors in other disciplines could use the equipment. To facilitate it, the vertical Sunrise Institute of Robotic Surgery is being launched at the MGCHRI.
Explaining the significance of the features da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, Srinivasan Murthy, a representative of the company said the surgeon would control the console to perform the procedure. With the cancer procedure taking up to 10 hours, the system would help him do a better job. The surgery is not pre-programmed and there would be no radiation as it’s an electromagnetic device.
Full field mammography
Dr. Murali Krishna said full-field digital mammography with 3D tomosynthesis, the first such facility in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, would also be introduced at the hospital on Friday. With the breast cancer cases increasing, the digital mammography equipment costing ₹2 crore would detect 40 % cancers that regular mammography might miss. Vacuum-assisted biopsy could also be performed.
The robotic surgery and 3D mammography would be inaugurated by HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Visakhapatnam East MLA V. Ramakrishnababu on Friday. Consultant surgical oncologists Karthik Chandra Vallam and Kalyan were also present.
