Robotic surgeries pick up pace in India after Covid-19 pandemic lull

Small number of trained surgeons, robots remain a challenge

Last month, a middle-aged sweet stall owner from Kolkata underwent a robotic surgery in Chennai that removed cancerous tumours from both his kidneys. All it took was two interventions — a minimal invasive procedure on March 22 to allow robotic instruments access to his abdomen, followed by a four-hour robotic surgery two weeks later.

Vasantharaja Ramasamy, associate consultant, Urology, Uro-oncology and Robotic Surgery, Rela Hospital, who led the procedure, says he achieved what the surgery aimed for with no side effects for the patient. The tumours were removed while saving the kidneys as far as possible, otherwise the patient would have