Eastern India’s First-Ever Robotic-Assisted Transverse Colectomy Conducted at Fortis Hospital Anandapur ~The 77-year-old woman was discharged within three days of the colectomy surgery ~

Eastern India’s First-Ever Robotic-Assisted Transverse Colectomy Conducted at Fortis Hospital Anandapur 

 ~The 77-year-old woman was discharged within three days of the colectomy surgery ~   

Kolkata, January 2024 – In a remarkable medical feat, Dr. Udipta Ray, Director GI, Minimal Access & Bariatric Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Anandapur along with his team have successfully performed Eastern India’s first-ever robotic transverse colectomy. This advanced surgical procedure, involving robotic technology to remove part of the middle section of the large intestine, was conducted on a 77-year-old woman battling complex colon cancer. 

  The patient was presented with symptoms of bowel habit alterations, diarrhoea, and a significant weight loss over the last three months. Clinical examination revealed mild anaemia, and colonoscopy detected a polypoid growth (an abnormal, protruding tissue mass with an unusual shape) in the transverse colon - which is the longest part of the large intestine extending horizontally across the abdomen. Subsequent biopsy results confirmed the presence of cancerous cells or tumours with the potential to invade and spread to surrounding tissues and other parts of the body. 

  Dr. Udipta Ray, Director GI, Minimal Access & Bariatric Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Anandapur, said “Given the complexities of the case and the unique circumstances of a 77-year old woman living alone with minimal social support, we decided to perform a Robotic-assisted Transverse Colectomy on the patient. Robotic-assisted transverse colectomy is a surgery where a robot aids in removing a portion of the transverse colon (part of the large intestine that runs horizontally across the abdomen), allowing for smaller incisions, precise movements, and faster recovery. Following comprehensive patient counselling, the minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery was performed. The patient demonstrated a steady and remarkable recovery, negating the need for any blood transfusion. Impressively, the patient was discharged just three days after the procedure.”   

Post-operative biopsy reports indicated an early tumour confined solely to the colon, with no spread beyond the organ and no involvement of lymph nodes or other organs and more than adequate clearance was done. It was a curative surgery, signalling that the patient has been successfully treated for colon cancer through surgery alone, eliminating the need for additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.”   

Mr. Ashish Mukherjee, Facility Director, said “We are immensely proud of the pioneering achievements of our medical team led by Dr. Udipta Ray. This exceptional milestone not only demonstrates our commitment to advanced and patient-centric healthcare but also underscores our dedication to providing innovative solutions for complex medical cases.” 

  The patient was discharged within three days of the surgery and resumed leading a normal life, along with the ability to tolerate oral feed. Had it been for traditional surgery the patient would have required bigger incisions, longer hospital stays along with recovery time and more blood loss.