Faster recovery with robotic surgery

Haya Fatima, a 20-year-old BTech student from Lucknow, was afflicted by Myasthenia gravis, an auto-immune disorder of the nervous system that caused her problems while swallowing, chewing and moving her neck. HT reports.

Haya Fatima, a 20-year-old BTech student from Lucknow, was afflicted by Myasthenia gravis, an auto-immune disorder of the nervous system that caused her problems while swallowing, chewing and moving her neck.

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A general surgery would have meant a 14-cm scar across her body, something Fatima did not want. Then, Sir Gangaram Hospital offered her the alternative of a robotic surgery and she was back on her feet in two days. “I’m returning to Lucknow on Saturday to take my second year BTech exams next week,” said Fatima, who had her surgery on Wednesday.

Similarly, 22-year-old Pallavi Mittal, also suffering from Myasthenia gravis, was suggested a robotic surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. She went to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital instead, and became the first patient to undergo robotic surgery there.

“Robotic surgery are primarily used in urological cancers and cardiac problems. At our centre, we have had 30 cases across different departments: thoracic, vascular, bariatric, urology, vascular and gynaecology,” said Dr Arvind Kumar, who set up the robotic surgery institute at the hospital.

“Robotics offers more precision, and smaller incisions make recovery faster. It costs Rs 65, 000 more than general surgery,” he said.