Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], January 14 (HBTV): India's first indigenous surgical robotic technology has made history in global healthcare by successfully performing the world's first two robotic cardiac telesurgeries within two days, according to doctors involved in the procedures.
The surgeries, conducted by three surgical robotic systems, connected SS Innovations' headquarters in Gurugram with a private hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan, spanning a distance of 286 kilometers. The telerobotic-assisted Internal Mammary Artery Harvesting procedure was completed remotely in just 58 minutes. The procedure was led by Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of SS Innovations International, Inc., from the SSI Headquarters in Gurugram and supported by Dr. Lalit Malik, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Manipal Hospital, Jaipur, along with his expert team at the remote location in Jaipur. The procedure was performed with exceptional precision, achieving an incredibly low latency of just 35-40 milliseconds (1/20th of a second).
This groundbreaking procedure was followed by another first-of-its-kind surgery: a Robotic Beating Heart Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (TECAB). Known as one of the most complex cardiac surgical procedures, it was also performed via telesurgery under the same collaboration, with a latency of just 40 milliseconds. Both surgeries showcased seamless teamwork across long distances, setting a new standard for remote surgical interventions.
Dr. Sudhir Srivastava remarked, 'We are extremely thrilled to have advanced the capabilities of surgery to benefit humanity, especially in areas that need it the most. By enabling telesurgery, we can bridge gaps in access to medical expertise and deliver the highest standard of care, regardless of geographical barriers.' He further highlighted the transformative potential of telesurgery for India, where vast rural populations face significant healthcare disparities.
'Telesurgery brings world-class surgical expertise directly to underserved communities, eliminating the need for patients to travel long distances to urban centres for specialized care. It ensures timely interventions while reducing logistical and financial burdens on families. With the recent CDSCO approval for telesurgery using SSI Mantra, we have not just advanced technology; we have fulfilled our mission to democratize access to robotic surgery,' he added.
Dr. Lalit Malik stated, 'This groundbreaking inter-state robotic cardiac telesurgery marks a significant leap in enhancing patient care through innovation. The remote robotic-assisted CABG on an elderly patient from Jaipur exemplifies how technology is bridging geographical gaps to provide accurate and timely medical interventions. This achievement underscores our dedication to offering world-class healthcare and ensuring patients have access to the most advanced treatment options available.'
Dr. Fredric Moll, known as the Father of Surgical Robotics and Founder of Intuitive Surgical and Vice-Chairman of SS Innovations International, Inc., congratulated the team on the achievement. 'I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Srivastava and the entire SSI team on the successful achievement of performing the world's first robotic cardiac telesurgeries. It is delightful to see just how far we have come since the inception of surgical robotics more than 20 years ago,' he said.
Reflecting on the evolution of surgical robotics, he noted, 'The original robotic system was designed to achieve two things: remote surgery and the ability to perform coronary bypass surgery in a completely closed chest approach. Due to bandwidth limitations at the time, the telesurgery goal was put on hold while we further broadened the applications of the robotic system across all specialities.' (ANI)