Medica successfully conducts Robotic Surgery on 74 years old kidney cancer patient with Dementia & Parkinson's disease

~ 4^th Generation Da Vinci X surgical robot allows critically ill patient fit to be discharged next day ~

Mumbai, 7^th March 2022: Medica Superspecialty Hospital, the largest private hospital chain in Eastern India, through their newly set up Oncology Department, providing world class cancer treatment at Kolkata, achieved yet another momentous feat on a 74-year-old Kidney Cancer patient who could not be operated in traditional method due to various complications, by conducting robotic surgery with the help of 4^th generation Da Vinci X Surgical Robot available at the facility. This minimal invasive, challenging, yet successful operation of a critical patient adds another feather in the cap of the Medica Oncology team led by Dr. Sourav Dutta, Director Medica Cancer Hospital.

74-year-old, septuagenarian Mr. Jasimuddin Laskar hailing from Chatra, Maladari, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, was operated Dr. Abhay Kumar, Head - Urology, Surgical Oncology, Robotic Surgery, Medica Cancer Institute, Medica Superspecialty Hospital on 2^nd February, the first robotic surgery case at Medica Superspecialty Hospital. The patient came in with Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and Ulcerative Colitis. Already frail and disoriented he was bleeding from the rectum and his hemoglobin was only 6 grams per deciliter (g/dl). Making him unsuitable for any surgery. He was attended immediately by gastroenterologist, neurologist, critical/intensive care team. During the investigation and upon required tests he was found suffering from a kidney tumour (left side). Medica’s Oncology team understood the urgency to remove the kidney to save his life as he was already bleeding from rectum and his hemoglobin was at an alarming level creating a scenario, where traditional method of operating the patient was not an option. Anesthetists were apprehensive due to his age, diabetes, hypertension, and the multiple issues he was already harboring, administering strong drugs might have aggravated dementia and Parkinson’s and lead patient to further complications. Oncology team suggested Radical Nephrectomy through robotic surgery (surgery to remove the cancerous kidney).

Upon successful operation, he was fit to be discharged next day. The patient was sitting on his bed and could have food the very next day, with minimal pain and non-invasive robotic surgery the adept doctors of Medica Cancer Institute, Medica Superspecialty Hospital ensured that he can return to his normal life.

Speaking about the quick recovery and benefits of yet another successful robotic surgery, Dr. Abhay Kumar, Head - Urology, Surgical Oncology, Robotic Surgery, Medica Cancer Institute, Medica Superspecialty Hospital, stated, “It is indeed a boon for patients of such profile who has multiple ailments and a potential cancerous growth inside. We took it as a challenge and operated through robotic surgery. Surgeries through the state-of-the-art robot not just ensures minimal hospital stays, it reduces the blood loss to bare minimum with very less pain. Keeping a septuagenarian on strong medication like antibiotics, major pain killers or performing an open surgery with full anesthesia is risky. What we achieved with Da Vinci Xi Robot is nothing short of a miracle. He had come for a follow up at OPD on 14^th February and is doing fine, he was walking by himself and responding to commands. He said, ‘Thank You!’ after we removed the stiches which was heart-warming.”  

Dr. Kalyan Sarkar, Consultant Urologist, stated, “I do believe robotic surgeries are indeed a great medical advance. There is a dearth of such advanced facilities in Eastern India. These surgeries have huge positive implications for patients with surgically curable urological cancers. My heartiest congratulations to the Medica Oncology team for achieving success on such critical cases through robotic surgery.”

The extra cost incurred due to consumables pecific to robotic surgery was balanced out by minimal hospital stay, very less medications and no blood transfusion while ensuring the best quality of life after surgery.

Medica always believed in using cutting edge technology with a heart - technology that’s beneficial to patients in terms of reducing hospital stay thus reducing costs, better clinical outcomes, and faster recovery. With such aim Medica has now brought on board the 4^th Generation Da Vinci X System that will now be able to provide the surgeons with multi-quadrant access, improved ease-of-use, an expanded instrument portfolio and an integrated table to enable a minimally invasive option for the breadth of surgical procedures. During the pandemic, there was an increase in the number of minimally invasive surgeries like Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) across therapy areas – especially in cancer care, an indication that certain section of patients and surgeons are now choosing this procedure for the reason – it is more accurate and safer for the patient and surgeon with minimal post-operative care.