AIIMS Performs First Robotic Surgery in Asia

EHM News Bureau

The Department of Urology at the AIIMS recently performed the first Robotic Surgery in Asia. The procedure was performed with the help of the da Vinci S Robotic Surgical System, which is a state of the art four arms Robotic Surgical System and first such system in Asia. Dr Ashok K Hemal, Professor of Urology led the team to conduct the procedure on a patient who was suffering from cancer of the prostate.

Radical prostatectomy is the best way to treat localised cancer of the prostate. Radical prostatectomy by open surgery for cancer of the prostate is by far the commonest method. However, this surgery is associated with large incisions and postoperative problems such as pain, loss of time from work, loss of urinary control and loss of erections.

Some of these problems can be reduced by the use of the second technique-laparoscopy.Radical prostatectomy for cancer prostate is one of the most complex laparoscopic surgeries and is performed at very few centers in the World. The department of Urology at the AIIMS pioneered this surgery in India and is the only center in the country performing this surgery routinely. It has now complied the first series of such surgeries in India and its availability within this country will prove a boon for the large Indian population.

Robotic surgery is the most advanced from laparoscopic surgery wherein a robot is used to manipulate the surgical instruments while the surgeon controls the robot's movements. The use of robot assistance for surgery for prostate cancer is the 'State of the Art' technology and is available at select centers worldwide. The robot allows extreme surgical precision, thus minimizing the incidence of postoperative pain and complications. This surgery has many advantages to the patient and also to the surgeon, who performs this.