IGMC performs robotic surgery on five children, marks milestone in pediatric care
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Shimla, August 18
The Department of Pediatric Surgery at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC), Shimla, has achieved a major milestone by successfully performing robotic surgery on five children aged between two and five years, marking the first such initiative in pediatric surgery in Himachal Pradesh.
The surgeries were performed to treat kidney blockages and intestinal complications, with all five procedures recording a 100 per cent success rate, doctors said.
Dr Rajkumar Thakur of the Department of Pediatric Surgery and Dr Puneet Mahajan, Mentor of Robotic Surgery, said robotic technology is opening new possibilities for treating congenital diseases, blockages and other complex conditions among children.
They said selected cases involving complicated kidney and intestinal problems, which earlier required conventional surgery, can now be treated through robotic-assisted procedures.
According to the doctors, robotic surgery involves smaller incisions, which can reduce postoperative pain and help children recover faster. The robotic system also provides surgeons with a clearer and more precise view of internal organs, enabling delicate procedures to be performed with greater accuracy.
Doctors said each child is assessed individually before surgery, taking into consideration age, medical condition and overall health. Robotic surgery is not required in every case, and specialists decide its suitability based on the child’s condition.
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The department said robotic surgery can be considered for children between one and 18 years of age, depending on the disease and clinical requirement.
The successful procedures on the five children have expanded the scope of robotic-assisted pediatric surgery at IGMC and marked an important step towards providing advanced surgical care to children within the state.
IGMC Medical Superintendent Dr Rahul Rao was also present on the occasion.
IGMC has also reported rapid expansion of its robotic surgery programme since its introduction in the state. In about five months, 112 patients have undergone successful robotic procedures in the departments of Surgery, Gynaecology and Pediatric Surgery.
The hospital has also sought to keep the cost of robotic procedures considerably lower than that charged by private hospitals. The cost at IGMC starts at around Rs 30,000, although the final expense varies according to the disease, complexity of the procedure and treatment required.
The availability of advanced robotic technology at a government medical institution is expected to provide patients, including children requiring complex procedures, access to modern surgical care at a comparatively affordable cost.
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