In a groundbreaking achievement, India’s indigenous surgical robotic system, SSI Mantra, successfully conducted two robotic cardiac surgeries via telesurgery over a distance of 286 kilometers.
The surgeries were remotely performed at Manipal Hospital in Jaipur by Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, operating from Gurugram, using the advanced SSI Mantra 3 Surgical Robotic System.
The first procedure, a Telerobotic-assisted Internal Mammary Artery Harvesting, was successfully completed in just 58 minutes. The surgery demonstrated remarkable precision, with an ultra-low latency of 35-40 milliseconds (1/20th of a second).
This was followed by another world-first: a robotic beating heart totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB), considered one of the most complex cardiac surgical procedures. This surgery was also performed via telesurgery, connecting Gurugram and Jaipur, with an equally low latency of just 40 milliseconds.
“We are thrilled to have advanced surgical capabilities to benefit humanity, particularly in areas that need it the most,” said Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of SS Innovations. “By enabling telesurgery, we can bridge gaps in access to medical expertise and deliver high-quality care, regardless of geographical barriers. For a country like India, with its vast rural population and significant healthcare disparities, this innovation is transformative.”
Dr. Lalit Malik, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Manipal Hospital, Jaipur, added, “This groundbreaking interstate robotic cardiac telesurgery marks a significant leap in enhancing patient care. The remote robotic-assisted CABG on an elderly patient in Jaipur showcases how technology can bridge geographical gaps to provide accurate and timely medical interventions.”
Developed by SS Innovations, the SSI Mantra 3 Surgical Robotic System is the only robotic system worldwide to receive regulatory approval for telesurgery and tele-proctoring. Its recent approval by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) paves the way for remote surgeries and medical education, allowing healthcare professionals to collaborate across distances.
(Inputs from IANS)
