India has taken a major leap forward in healthcare by combining robotic surgery and telesurgery to treat patients in remote locations. Using the indigenously developed SSI Mantra robotic system, surgeons have successfully performed telesurgeries, offering hope to patients who lack access to advanced surgical expertise.
World’s Youngest Telesurgery on a 16-Month-Old Baby
Sharing details of this remarkable achievement, Dr. V. Chandramohan, Managing Director of Preeti Kidney Hospital and Chief Urologist, recounted a groundbreaking case:
“A 16-month-old baby was born with a congenital kidney problem. The renal pelvis – the funnel-shaped part of the kidney connecting to the ureter – was blocked, a condition known as ureteropelvic obstruction. As a result, urine could not flow from the kidney to the bladder. Since the child was so young, we opted for robotic surgery. The baby was brought to Preeti Kidney Hospital in Kondapur, while I sat at the console in Gurugram at the SSI Mantra office, nearly 1,600 kilometers away. Using 5G technology and robotic systems, I performed the surgery remotely in just one hour. The child was discharged the next day.”
This case now holds the record as the world’s youngest telesurgery ever performed, surpassing an earlier reported case in China on an eight-year-old child.
First-Ever Cross-State Robotic Telesurgery
In another milestone, a woman from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, required advanced robotic surgery after experiencing urinary leakage following a hysterectomy. Local surgeons were trained only in open procedures, so they contacted Preeti Kidney Hospital for support.
Through 5G connectivity and the SSI Mantra robotic system, Dr. Chandramohan performed the surgery remotely from Gurugram. The procedure lasted one hour and 20 minutes, marking India’s first cross-state robotic telesurgery of this kind.
Team Effort Behind the Success
These historic surgeries were made possible by the coordinated efforts of a large multidisciplinary team, including:
- Hospital Leadership: Dr. Roopa (Executive Director), Dr. Rangappa (CEO)
- Clinical Experts: Dr. Ramakrishna (Senior Surgeon), Dr. Hemant & Dr. Soundarya (Senior Urologists), Dr. Devender (Pediatric Anesthetist), Dr. Vamsi (Pediatrician)
- Support Staff: Coordinators Rajender, Ganesh, Anil; Senior Technician Sridhar
- Technical Experts: Robotic engineers Durgesh and Ishan Prashant
- SSI Mantra Leadership: Vishva (Director), Dr. Sudhir Srivastava (CEO)
Together, this team demonstrated that distance is no barrier when technology and expertise work hand in hand.
Vision for the Future of Remote Surgery
Dr. Chandramohan emphasized the importance of expanding this model:
“India is vast, and it is not possible to have top-level specialists in every corner. If groups of doctors invest in surgical robots, experts from major centers can operate remotely. A single console can even connect with up to ten robots simultaneously. This model not only helps patients but also trains local doctors, strengthening the entire healthcare ecosystem.”