Odisha's first gynaecological robotic surgery successful in Apollo hospital

BHUBANESWAR: Apollo Hospitals in Odisha, Bhubaneswar on Friday performed the first gynecological robotic surgery in the state. A 31-year-old woman had her tumors from the uterus removed of on the world's most sophisticated Da Vinci platform.

The patient who is a mother had previously undergone three conventional surgeries but was still suffering from severe pain and bleeding. Conceiving again was not possible due to the growth of fibroids in the uterus.

A team led by senior Consultant Dr GSS Mohapatra, after a preliminary investigation decided to perform robotic surgery that had the benefit of smaller wounds, less blood loss, more precise surgery, and postoperative pain. Dr Mohapatra and Dr Rooma Sinha, a senior consultant at the Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad, performed the computer-assisted surgery.

After the US FDA approval of the Da Vinci robot in 2005, it has been used in the removal of fibroids from the uterus (myomectomy), removal of whole uterus (hysterectomy), tubal re anastomosis (cases where patient wants opening up of the tubes after tubal ligation), complex surgeries like deep infiltrating endometriosis and radical surgeries done for cancers of the uterus, cervix, tubes and ovaries, the new Indian Express reported.

Dr Sinha, who has the expertise of conducting more than 500 robotic surgeries, said, "Robotic surgeries have many advantages for both doctors and patients. For surgeons, it offers 3D visualisation and the ability to do precise surgeries because of better wrist movements by the instruments and also improved ergonomics".

Although the cost is higher than conventional laparoscopic surgery, it is expected to decrease as more patients and other hospitals are equipped with this facility. Regional CEO Sudhir M Diggikar and Medical Services Director Dr Alok Srivastava congratulated the team.

Though the cost of surgery is higher than the normal laparoscopic surgery, it is expected to come down with more patients opting for it and other hospitals equipped with the infrastructure. Regional CEO Sudhir M Diggikar and Director, Medical Services Dr Alok Srivastava congratulated the team.