A 67-year-old man from Uzbekistan has been given a new lease on life after undergoing successful treatment for a rare colonic tumor via robot-assisted surgery. According to a statement from Amrita Hospital, Faridabad, the procedure marks the world’s first robot-assisted surgery for this particular condition.
The patient presented with a unique condition known as situs inversus partial, where his liver and colon were abnormally positioned. Additionally, he had a malignant tumor in the mispositioned colon. Situs inversus partial is extremely rare, with an incidence rate of about one in 10,000 people when considering both totalis and partial forms.
As reported by newkerala.com, the tumor, identified as a rare variant of colonic malignancy, was obstructing the patient’s large intestine, preventing him from consuming solid foods and posing significant risks of spread and complications. His symptoms included vomiting, inability to eat, weight loss, anemia, and abdominal distension.
“Robot-assisted surgery greatly enhances precision and accuracy through its advanced features. The procedure was performed using a console that offers a magnified, high-resolution 3D view of the surgical site, providing superior depth perception and detailed anatomical visuals,” informed Abhishek Agrawal, Robotic GI Oncosurgery Consultant in the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad.
By the third day post-surgery, the patient was able to resume a normal diet and was discharged just a week after the operation, the hospital reported. “Based on the final biopsy report, the patient will need to undergo chemotherapy. After completing the treatment, he will only require routine blood tests and imaging for surveillance to detect any early recurrence and receive timely treatment. He can continue with his normal life without needing long-term medications or restrictions,” informed Saleem Naik, Senior Consultant in GI Surgery at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad.