PGI sees its first stitchless endoscopic spine surgery

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 16

In a breakthrough, the Department of Neurosurgery, PGI, has performed a stitchless endoscopic spine surgery under local anaesthesia.It is open for other patients as well.

The premier health institute had acquired the gadget to perform the surgery about three to four months ago. The surgery on a patient with lumbar disc was performed recently by a team led by Additional Professor Dr Dhandapani SS while the patient was fully aware and awake.

Earlier, back surgery used to be open and the patient had to be made unconscious using general anaesthesia.

But in the latest technique, the whole surgery is done under local anaesthesia and the risks associated with general anesthesia are avoided.

“The surgery is performed in case of patients, who have back or disc problem which is not relieved even after physiotherapy and medicine. It depends upon the disease and the patient’s preference that which surgery is to be undertaken. Symptoms could be pain from back to foot. Basically, these are disc-related problems,” Dr Dhandapani told Chandigarh Tribune.

The advanced surgery is also cost effective. It costs about Rs 12,000 while the surgery under general anaesthesia cost Rs 20,000.

Very few centres in the region provide stitchless endoscopic spine surgery under local anaesthesia.

On the process of the surgery, PGI doctors said the procedure was one of the latest advances in minimally invasive and endoscopic spine surgery, guided by a needle under X-ray, followed by pure endoscopic visualisation. As the surgery is performed in the disc, the complications are minimal, patient comfort is great and can be discharged on the same day.

Endoscopic surgery does not leave behind scars. The post-operative recovery is faster. As the normal parts of spine are not disturbed, the long term adverse effects are also avoided.

Rs 12,000 cost of stichless surgery, which is half the expenses incurred on earlier technique

• Patient remains fully aware and awake during surgery
• The surgery is done under local anaesthesia
• Risks associated with general anaesthesia are avoided
• No scars post-surgery 
• Complications are minimal
• Patient is discharge on the day of surgery itself