Sassoon docs perform first robotic surgery, free of cost
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Pune: A 35-year-old woman, who had gallstones, has become the first patient to undergo a robot-assisted surgery at the city's BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital (BJMC & SGH).
The successful procedure, performed free of cost on Wednesday, made the hospital the first govt medical college in western Maharashtra and the third in the state to have a dedicated robotic surgery facility for the masses, after Mumbai's King Edward Memorial Hospital and Nagpur's Government Medical College.
The woman who underwent the surgery on Wednesday, for what's known as cholelithiasis (gallstones in the gallbladder), is expected to be discharged on Sunday, her doctors said.
Dr Lata Bhoir, head of general surgery department, said: "The patient had abdominal pain for 5-6 months and was diagnosed with gallstones, medically termed as cholelithiasis. We performed a cholecystectomy, or the removal of gallbladder.
She's doing fine."
A keyhole incision was made rather than a long continuous incision, which helps minimise blood loss and expedites post-surgery recovery, Dr Bhoir added.
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Sassoon's robotic unit took months to start.
The robot was purchased last November by the medical education department, but could only be used this week - eight months later - due to various reasons, including renovations in the operating theatre and crucial training for surgeons. Sassoon hospital's surgeons and nurses, rated to operate the robot, were trained at Nagpur Government Medical college. A high-fidelity simulator was used to develop their skills.
Dr Eknath Pawar, dean of BJMC & SGH, hailed Wednesday's surgery as a big step towards affordable care. "Robotic surgery may cost Rs3–5 lakh at private hospitals. But our hospital now offers this service free of cost to underprivileged patients," he said, adding that the robot can help surgeons improve reach.
Dr Pawar said: "While a surgeon has only two arms and limited wrist movement, three to five arms of the robot can operate simultaneously and much more efficiently under the control of the surgeon.
This can be helpful for organs that are difficult to access by open or laparoscopic surgery, which includes procedures on the prostate, adrenal gland kidney and oesophagus. SGH will soon start using the robot for thoracic, cardiac and gynaecological surgeries as well.
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Dr Aashish Chavan, associate professor, of the general surgery department said: "Robotic surgery is an advanced technique where a significant part of the body cavity surgery is done by a robotic arm, controlled by a surgeon sitting at the computer console away from the patient in the operation theatre. It has many advantages, including access to difficult areas, better vision, reduced blood loss and faster recovery.
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Time of India
a day ago
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Sassoon docs perform first robotic surgery, free of cost
1 2 3 Pune: A 35-year-old woman, who had gallstones, has become the first patient to undergo a robot-assisted surgery at the city's BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital (BJMC & SGH). The successful procedure, performed free of cost on Wednesday, made the hospital the first govt medical college in western Maharashtra and the third in the state to have a dedicated robotic surgery facility for the masses, after Mumbai's King Edward Memorial Hospital and Nagpur's Government Medical College. The woman who underwent the surgery on Wednesday, for what's known as cholelithiasis (gallstones in the gallbladder), is expected to be discharged on Sunday, her doctors said. Dr Lata Bhoir, head of general surgery department, said: "The patient had abdominal pain for 5-6 months and was diagnosed with gallstones, medically termed as cholelithiasis. We performed a cholecystectomy, or the removal of gallbladder. She's doing fine." A keyhole incision was made rather than a long continuous incision, which helps minimise blood loss and expedites post-surgery recovery, Dr Bhoir added. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Sassoon's robotic unit took months to start. The robot was purchased last November by the medical education department, but could only be used this week - eight months later - due to various reasons, including renovations in the operating theatre and crucial training for surgeons. Sassoon hospital's surgeons and nurses, rated to operate the robot, were trained at Nagpur Government Medical college. A high-fidelity simulator was used to develop their skills. Dr Eknath Pawar, dean of BJMC & SGH, hailed Wednesday's surgery as a big step towards affordable care. "Robotic surgery may cost Rs3–5 lakh at private hospitals. But our hospital now offers this service free of cost to underprivileged patients," he said, adding that the robot can help surgeons improve reach. Dr Pawar said: "While a surgeon has only two arms and limited wrist movement, three to five arms of the robot can operate simultaneously and much more efficiently under the control of the surgeon. This can be helpful for organs that are difficult to access by open or laparoscopic surgery, which includes procedures on the prostate, adrenal gland kidney and oesophagus. SGH will soon start using the robot for thoracic, cardiac and gynaecological surgeries as well. " Dr Aashish Chavan, associate professor, of the general surgery department said: "Robotic surgery is an advanced technique where a significant part of the body cavity surgery is done by a robotic arm, controlled by a surgeon sitting at the computer console away from the patient in the operation theatre. It has many advantages, including access to difficult areas, better vision, reduced blood loss and faster recovery. "
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