SGPGIMS first UP hospital to start robotic surgeries

The Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) is the first in Uttar Pradesh to start robotic surgery. The institute, after making efforts for the past five years, succeeded in purchasing a robotic system in December last year.

Speaking to media during its inauguration, SGPGI Director Professor Rakesh Kapoor said, "Precision is the biggest advantage of the robotic surgery because it eliminates the risk of errors made sometimes during the normal surgery. It will also reduce the time in conducting a surgery. Sixty-two institutes across the country are successfully using this technology."

Dr. Amit Agrawal, chief medical superintendent (CMS) of the SGPGI said, "The surgeon can operate the system easily after getting proper training. Gastro, Endocrine, Urology and Cardio are the four departments where this technology will be used effectively. Robotic system has been manufactured by an American company. This technology also reduces the possibility of blood loss. Initially training has been given to eight surgeons. It's extremely beneficial for cardiac surgeons as it reduces the risk of big cuts."

UP medical and health education minister Ashutosh Tandon said, "The SGPGIMS will be providing this facility at around one-fourth the cost in private hospitals. Now, people don't need to go out of the state for robotic surgery. This technology will be brought in other medical colleges and hospitals in future as well."

The authorities will also be performing first 250 robotic procedures free of cost. Meanwhile, King George Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow is also exploring options to extend the facilityof robotic surgery soon.

In January this year, doctors at the SIMS Hospital had performed two back-to-back successful Robotic total knee replacement surgeries, for the first time in Tamil Nadu on 65 years old patients, both with severe knee pain since over five years.

These surgeries were done using the NAVIO PFS Robotic surgical system, the latest advanced generation Robotic intervention in joint replacement (developed in the USA) and to the delight of the families, enabled these patients to walk without significant pain within four hours of the surgery itself. In a first, on May 8 last year, a robot was used to successfully remove a rare tumour from a patient's neck in a surgery led by an Indian-origin surgeon.

Chordoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the bones of the skull base and spine. A chordoma tumour usually grows slowly and is often asymptomatic for years.

(With inputs from PTI)