Asian Heart performs first robotic cardiac surgery in western India

Asian Heart Institute, ‘India’s Highest Accredited Hospital’ and ‘The Best Private Cardiac Hospital’* recently added another feather to its cap by conducting the first robot assisted cardiac surgery in Mumbai & western India.

The same expert care of Asian Heart Institute has now being extended to a wide array of disciplines under the aegis of Asian Hospitals:

•  Asian Robotic Surgery Institute
• Asian Orthopedic Institute
• Asian Minimally Invasive Surgery Institute
• Asian Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery Institute

The Asian Robotic Surgery Institute is the First in Mumbai to offer Robot Assisted Surgery. The da Vinci Si Robotic Surgical System with Simulator at the Institute is the latest third generation robot and the first of its kind in India. The Institute has already successfully completed more than 75 robot assisted surgeries in various specialties such as urology, nephrology and gynecology.

The team at the Asian Robotic Surgery Institute is led by Dr Ramakanta Panda, Vice Chairman & Managing Director & Chief Consultant – Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery, Asian Heart Institute.

The surgery was led and performed by Dr Sudhir Srivastava, Chairman & Managing Director, of International Centre for Robotic Surgery. Dr Srivastava is one of the world’s leading surgeons in robotic cardiothoracic surgery & is credited to have performed more than 1300 robotic cardiac surgeries, the largest experience in the world.

Speaking on the procedure, Dr Panda said, “As opposed to traditional open heart surgery, robot assisted surgery is minimally invasive. This is beneficial since it means smaller cuts (incisions) of 1-2 cms only as compared to conventional surgery (10-12 inches), lesser pain & trauma, lesser blood loss, faster recovery time & lesser scars. In fact we were able to send the patient home in a couple of days. The procedure becomes less daunting for old and young alike.”   

Dr Srivastava, said “Open heart surgeries require the chest to be opened to access the heart which leads to a long recovery time, blood loss, trauma and increased risk of infection and leaves a lifelong ugly scar and patients are weary of getting it done. But through robotic assistance, we managed to reach the area through just four finger tip sized incisions. One can see just tiny incision marks from outside which will disappear with time. He is able to walk around and even return to his daily routine work within 48 hours of the surgery.”

Robotic cardiac surgery can be performed for congenital heart defects, bypass surgeries, valve repair & replacement and heart tumours.