In a first, AIIMs uses robot for surgery

Adding another first to its list, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has used a robot to operate upon a person suffering from throat cancer.

Adding another first to its list, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has used a robot to operate upon a person suffering from throat cancer.

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"The process is called Trans Oral Robotic Surgery (TORS), in which robotic arms are passed in the throat through the mouth, with no external incisions," said Dr S K Sharma, professor and head of ENT department, AIIMS.

Four people underwent the surgery on Thursday. The first, a 43-year-old male, had cancerous growth in tonsils and adjoining tongue area, which was excised.

Robotic surgery, which is also called computer-assisted surgery (CAS) has improved lives of many since it was introduced nearly a decade ago. The technology is getting better.

The hardware and software updates help in better manoeuvring during the operation.

They also help the person as it results in reduced blood losses and early recovery.

CAS compensates for the limitations of manual surgeries to a great extent, especially giving a three-dimensional view.