Asian Vattikutti Institute of Robotic Surgery (AVIRS), Mumbai has started training doctors and surgeons to adopt the new da Vinci Si Robotic Surgical system with simulator, the third generation technology to perform surgeries often known as robotic assisted surgeries.

AVIRS has started training surgeons to adopt the new system as it is the latest, third generation robot which helps doctor to perform surgeries for cardiac and non-cardiac cases. The training is conducted at the institute, in which every doctor is trained in the required speciality. It takes around two or three weeks to learn the robotic surgery but every doctor has his capability in accepting.

AVIRS has performed more than 19 surgeries in cardiovascular surgery and cardio thoracic surgery, ENT, oncology, urology and gynaecology.

In previous years, it was an open surgery of heart or tumour with the help of two or three doctors but with this robot it will be easily controlled by the only surgeon in the console. After the launch of AVIRS in July 2011,  they have performed 19 robotic assisted surgeries in Mumbai. The doctors initiated that these robots will not replace doctors but it is just a add on equipment which is controlled and managed by surgeon for better results as the robotic arms are controlled by the surgeon in console.

“This new robot surgery has many benefits such as less pain after surgery, decrease in loss of blood without blood transfusion (approx. 10cc blood is lost). The incision made is as small as one centimetre. The main advantage is patient can go home within three days of surgery and can join for work early. The precision is better and controllable and the images are visible in 3D,” said by Dr Ramakanta Panda, vice chairman, cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Asian Heart Institute (AHI).

Dr Mani Menon, director of Vattikutti Urology Institute (VUI) informed that with this technique we have already performed 80 per cent surgeries at Henry Ford Hospital, Michigan in urology, surgeries in gynaecology for uterus or ovaries and also cancers in chest or liver, tumours in kidney and bypass surgeries. In India, we are taking initiative in training new surgeons by organising workshops, giving detailed knowledge on the surgeries and how it will be helpful for them to adopt as it will be easier for the patient to recuperate from the surgery as it involves less pain and blood loss.

According to Dr Panda, any well trained surgeon can easily get familiarised with this technology within months. Initially the robots were planned for cardiac surgery, but it was Dr Mani Menon who started using this technology in urology. These robots will change the surgical practise in next 10 years and the contribution made by Vattikutti Foundation in setting up these centres and partnering with various hospitals across India like Medanta-Vattikuti Institute of Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery in Gurgaon; Apollo Vattikuti Institute of Robotic Surgery in Chennai; KIMS Vattikuti Institute of Robotic Surgery in Hyderabad; Manipal Vattikuti Institute of Robotic Surgery in Bangalore; Apollo Gleneagles Institute of Robotic Surgery in Kolkata and Asian Vattikutti Institute of Robotic Surgery in Mumbai is appreciable.

Raj Vattikutti, founder and head of Vattikutti Foundation, said that at KIMS Hospital we have seen great results as the patients treated for prostate cancers or malignant tumours by using these innovative technology. In the coming years Vattikutti Foundation can expect every hospital in Mumbai will have robots to perform surgeries. To aware people about the need and scope of robotic surgery and early diagnosis of malignant prostate cancer.