Hyderabad, August 18th, 2018 : Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad, hosted a live Workshop on Robotic Surgery in Gynaecology and Oncology, at Apollo Hospitals, on Saturday. Chief Guest Ms Sangita Reddy, Jt. Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals, formally inaugurated the Live Workshop, also present on the occasion were Guest of Honour Dr Krishna Kumari Meka, President, OGSH and faculty for the workshop, Dr Rooma Sinha, Sr. Gynecologist Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals; Sr. Robotic Surgical Oncologists, Apollo Cancer Institute, Dr Chinnababu Sunkavalli and Dr Hemanth Vudayaraju.
Surgeries are always scary for the patient, as it involves tremendous trauma on account of large incisions, unbearable pain and long recovery time. However, with advances in medical practice, surgeries are being done with smaller incisions and are turning out to be a boon for patients. Two decades ago, the advent of laparoscopy was a game changer and several gynecological surgeries were performed devoid of large incisions. But even today hysterectomies, myomectomies and other complex gynecological surgeries are being done through open method, therefore there was a pressing need for advances in surgical treatment options.
In this scenario, the US FDA approved Robotic Assisted Laparoscopy, is rapidly finding its place in both cancer and non-cancer gynecological surgeries. Robotic surgery is an advanced computer enhanced laparoscopic surgery that helps the surgeon to perform precise and detailed surgery. It is the next logical step in Minimal Access surgery. Contrary to the myth, it is the skill and experience of the surgeon which determines the outcome of the surgery and not that of the robot.
There are several potential advantages of the robotic systems to women patients like less Scarring and post-operative pain, due to precise movement; tissue trauma is less; minimal blood loss with better dissection in the right planes; faster recovery due to faster healing. Also most patients are able to go home in 24 to 48 hours and resume their normal activities within 2 weeks, unlike 6 weeks of home rest needed for open surgeries.
Surgeons too vouch for Robotic systems for its 3D magnified vision, Ability to use instruments just like human wrist, easy maneuverability etc., and being able to reach inaccessible areas and perform precise and complete surgery.
Robotic technology has brought about paradigm shift in the surgical management of gynecological disease that is typically prevalent in obese, postmenopausal women. Minimally invasive surgery, specifically with robotic assistance, has increased the possibilities of performing minimally invasive surgery in morbidly obese women. The advantages are more in elderly and obese patients.
Apollo Hospitals has performed several complex and difficult hysterectomies (removal of uterus) for both non-cancer and cancer conditions, Myomectomies (removal of large sizes and multiple fibroids) and endometriosis surgeries. In the last six years, the hospital has done over 700 Robotic surgeries, of which around 200 each of gynaec and oncology related surgeries. Apollo Hospital incidentally has the largest experience of doing Robotic Myomectomies in women in India.
Robotic surgery is being increasingly used in Gynaecology for myomectomy involving removal of fibroid while saving the uterus for future pregnancy; cancer of uterus; complex hysterectomies for non cancer conditions; endometriosis and sacrpcolpopexy for prolapse. It has become indispensable even in cancer surgery for cancer of uterus, cervix, colon, rectum (large intestine), esophagus, lung, kidney, prostrate and mediastinal tumours (thymoma) and for complex surgeries in difficult to access locations.
