Thaindian News

Mumbai, July 6 (IANS) The city’s Asian Heart Institute (AHI) Wednesday acquired Asia’s most advanced surgical robot - costing $2.5 million - following a tie-up with the Vattikuti Foundation in Michigan, US, an official said here.

The latest in robotic surgery, the da Vinci Si Robotic Surgical System with simulator capabilities - billed as the most advanced and only one in Asia - was formally commissioned here.

According to AHI head and heart surgeon Ramakant Panda, the robotic surgery facility would be available at Asian Vattikuti Institute of Robot Surgery (AVIRS), which will be based at the Asian Hospital.

Asian Hospital, to be based in the AHI existing complex at Bandra-Kurla Complex in central Mumbai, is a new multi-speciality hospital, launched by AHI, which will offer robotic surgery, minimal invasive surgery, orthopaedic treatment, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Panda told reporters here.

AHI will continue to provide specialist heart care services, said Panda, who operated on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh two years ago.

“The AVIRS will offer the most advanced robotic surgery for multi-disciplines like cardio thoracic, urology, gynecology, ENT and oncology,” Panda said.

The Vattikuti Foundation, headed by Raj and Padma Vattikuti, has established a network of robotic and other minimally invasive surgeries around the world to make the benefits of robotic technology available to the masses, an aide told IANS.

The difference in the cost of opting for robotic surgery (as opposed to traditional surgery) could be nil for a simple procedure but between Rs.50,000-Rs.150,000 on the higher side, depending on the nature of the illness and related complications.

Besides Mumbai, robotic surgery is available at New Delhi’s Medanta Vattikutti Institute of Robotic Surgery), Pune’s Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute, Ahmedabad’s Muljibhai Patel Urological Hospital, and Hyderabad’s Asian Institute of Gastroenterology.