Surgeons at Jipmer have successfully performed gall bladder removal surgery using a surgical robot on two patients.
The operations were performed on August 1. Both patients were discharged a day after the operation, a press note from Jipmer said.
Dr. Biju Pottakkat, Additional professor and Head of the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, who led the surgery team, said robotic surgeries are basically keyhole operations performed with the assistance of a robot.
The robot helps surgeons to perform operations in difficult (not easily accessible for the human hand) areas. The surgeries were performed with the state-of-the-art DaVinci XI Robotic surgical system.
As against the human arm and laparoscopic instruments, robotic arms can reach very difficult areas and perform operations. Robotic operations help in reducing blood loss during surgery and patients can be discharged within a few days, the press release said.
The robotic surgeries are of great benefit to patients with cancers of the intestines, liver, pancreas and other abdominal organs.
Plan to expand
The Department of Surgical Gastroenterology will soon introduce robotic surgeries for more complicated problems affecting the abdominal organs.
Jipmer Director Dr. S.C. Parija said the institution established a robotic surgery programme last month and is looking to expand the range of such interventions.
Jipmer is making available the facility for about ₹50,000 — a similar procedure in the private sector could cost between ₹3 and ₹7 lakh.
“Establishing robotic surgery programme at Jipmer is aimed at bringing the benefit of latest technologies to the poor,” he said.
Robotic surgery has placed the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology at Jipmer ahead of other similar departments in the country like All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, Dr. Parija added.
