Now, robot at AIIMS-Delhi to perform intricate procedures with precision       

AIIMS Delhi has installed a state-of-the-art surgical robot in its department of surgical disciplines, making it one of the first general surgery units in a government hospital in India to acquire such cutting-edge technology.

The introduction of robotic surgery underscores AIIMS's commitment to enhancing patient care, enabling the execution of complex procedures with unmatched precision, and keeping pace with global advancements in medical technology, said Dr Hemang Bhattacharjee, professor of surgery at AIIMS.

"The initiative to incorporate robotic surgery into its general surgery department is a strategic move to elevate the standards of care provided in a government healthcare setting," he said.

The surgical robot allows a magnified, three-dimensional view of the operative field and offers unparalleled dexterity through robotic arms, enabling surgeons to perform intricate procedures with precision.

The technology is particularly advantageous for surgeries requiring meticulous dissection and suturing in confined anatomical spaces, Bhattacharjee said.

"For example, complex colorectal surgeries, esophagectomies and pancreatic surgeries that were traditionally challenging due to their invasive nature can now be performed with reduced complications, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times," he said.

While private hospitals in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai have embraced robotic systems in specialties such as urology and gynaecology over the last decade, its adoption in government hospitals, especially for general surgery, has been relatively limited, Bhattacharjee said.

AIIMS-Delhi is bridging this gap by bringing advanced robotic capabilities to a public healthcare set-up, ensuring that patients from diverse socio-economic backgrounds benefit from the technology, Sunil Chumber, head, department of surgical disciplines, said.

"AIIMS is an academic institute and more than 100 surgical residents pursue their training in the department at any given point of time.

"The successful installation of the system will provide our resident doctors ample opportunity to get trained on this latest technology during their residency period. This has positioned our training curriculum on a par with any renowned medical institute of the world," Chumber said.