Pune based Jehangir Hospital has become the first hospital in Maharashtra to perform revolutionary METRX Endoscopic Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (E-MISS). The surgery was performed for the first time in the state by neurosurgeon Dr. Dilip Kiyawat.

Talking to this correspondent, he said, "E-MISS is a newly developed endoscopic technique that overcomes several shortcomings of traditional surgery and makes removal of slip disc a fearless surgery as it is more precise, less traumatic, quick and safe." He further explained that this day care procedure is performed through a keyhole opening, a 1.6 cm tube is inserted which a small telescope like instrument known as endoscope and small surgical instruments are passed. A tiny video camera attached to the endoscope projects the inside images of spinal canal with one or two stitches and covered with a small dressing.

"Since there is minimal handling of muscle, bone and ligaments through a small skin incision the post operative recovery is faster," he pointed out. In addition, the other benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery are enormous such as a small scar that is barely visible after a few months, shorter hospital stay, tissue handling is minimal, spinal stability is preserved, blood transfusion is not necessary as the blood loss is minimal and patient quickly returns to normal daily activities and feels confident to go to work early, he added.

The hospital has invested Rs. 32 lakh and till now nine cases have been operated upon since its inception in the month of April, 2003. The operation performed by this technique costs Rs.40,000 - Rs 50,000.

Dr. Kiyawat, who himself has undergone training from four neuro-surgical centres in USA where minimally invasive operations are done on spine and brain stressed , "E-MISS requires expertise on the part of the surgeon to produce good results."

According to him, the equipment, which is unique due to its versatile use, can be used for cervical spine discs, cervical spine fusion, and TB of spine. It also has facilities for removal of certain brain tumors and correcting some types of hydrocephalus. Describing endoscopic surgery as the future of surgery in brain and spine operations he said that in near future more and more neurological disorders would be treated by endoscopy.