Manipal Health Enterprises (MHE) launched the Manipal Vattikuti Institute of Robotic Surgery (MVIRS), at its flagship hospital in Bangalore. It is the first of its kind robotic facility in Karnataka with a Rs.10 crore technology initiative. The Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) will improve the quality of medical procedures and shorten patient’s recovery time in the hospital.

MHE has launched MVIRS in partnership with Vattikuti Foundation, USA which is an initiative by Raj and Padma Vattikuti. The Foundation is involved in empowering the rural population in India to achieve economic independence among other things.

The surgical technology will be used in operating rooms with applications in the specialties urology, gynaecology and oncology at the Manipal Hospital. This state-of- the-art surgical system is equipped with multiple robotic arms, tipped with precise instruments; the RAS will function as an extension of the surgeon's hands.

The robotic surgical system is designed to seamlessly replicate the movement of the surgeon's hands with the tips of micro-instruments. The system cannot make decisions on its own, nor can it perform any type of movement or maneuver, without the surgeon’s direct input, so at all times during the surgery, it is guided by the direct supervision of the surgeon.

The sophisticated robotic system is capable of expanding the operator’s surgical skills, allowing unmatched accuracy, vision and control. Furthermore, the surgeon can offer a minimally invasive option which is far more precise then conventional MIS.

On an average a patient undergoing a robotic assisted surgery will leave the hospital two to five days earlier as compared to patients who have undergone traditional surgery and return to work with normal activity 50% more quickly.

Additional benefits of the Robot Assisted Surgery are that it can reach where surgeons hands cannot and also allows 360 degree rotation, which is not humanly possible. Thus robots take surgery beyond the limits and reach of the human hand.

MHE has launched MVIRS in association with Vattikuti Technologies Pvt Ltd, a major global player in propagating the concept of ‘Minimally Invasive Research’ with a specific focus in robotic surgery.

According to Dr Ramdas Pai, chairman, Manipal Education and Medical Group, robotic surgery opens a new chapter in delivering quality healthcare for the convenience and enhanced clinical outcome for the community at large.

 “RAS is a boon to the medical community, by raising the bar of surgical management at Manipal Hospital. This showcases our commitment to world-class healthcare,” stated Rajen Padukone, CEO, Manipal Health Enterprises.

“We will use RAS in a bid to benefit and save patients suffering from plethora of health problems. RAS can be used for many types of surgery, from oncology to urology. The major advantage of Robotics assisted surgery is that the incisions made are tiny so the recovery from surgery is extremely quick. Quick healing time is hallmark of this surgery,” informed Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, medical director, Manipal Health Enterprises.

Raj Vattikuti, founder and chairman of Vattikuti Foundation, said, “Our aim is to ensure that the best of the technology required in the treatment of patients is made available to the community at large.”