NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, APRIL 12
Apollo Hospitals has announced on Tuesday that it had successfully completed the robotics cardiac surgery on the oldest patient in India at its dedicated Robot-Assisted Cardiac Surgery Unit in Greams Road facility here.
Dr MM Yusuf and team has created a milestone by performing the Robotic assisted Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) on a 93-year-old patient.
Even during the Covid pandemic, Apollo Hospitals lead the way in conducting Robotic aided Minimally Invasive CABG and saving lives. A 93-year-old man had robotic CABG surgery, making him India’s oldest patient to date.
Robotic cardiac surgery is a less invasive method that allows patients to return to their normal life considerably more quickly than open-heart surgery. Surgeons have greater vision, precision, accuracy, and control, and the patients will have less discomfort, fewer post-operative wound infections, less scarring, and improved respiration when undergoing a Robotic assisted procedure. Recovery is quick, with less time in the hospital, quicker mobilisation, and rehabilitation. This is a best option for patients with diabetes and older patients, the doctors said.
Dr MM Yusuf, Consultant, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, and team have operated on many patients above the age of 70 and about 10 patients over the age of 80 in the past few months.
In the octogenarians with multiple co-morbidities especially during the Covid pandemic Robotic assist CABG proved a boon to treat them with least postoperative complications and enable quick recovery. These patients were not suitable for open surgery and would have been left with no definitive treatment options if Robotic surgery was not available, they added.
Addressing at the press conference, Dr MM Yusuf, said, “Minimally invasive Cardiac surgery avoids sternal split and aids quick recovery. Robotic assist CABG is the least invasive cardiac surgery procedure available now. This surgery involves making tiny holes in the chest cavity through which surgery is performed with the help of Davinci Robotic system. Most patients do not have any cut in the legs since the 2 arteries in the chest wall are used to perform the bypass surgery. Patients have little blood loss, pain and recover quickly. Hospital stay is usually 2 to 3 days and return to full normal activity is 2 to 3 weeks as opposed to 3 months or more with open CABG. This unique procedure is performed in very few centres across the globe.”
Commenting on this Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “Our mission has always been to introduce the latest medical technology to India for the benefit of our patients. We want more people to be able to take advantage of our hospital’s cutting-edge surgical and medical treatment. At Apollo Hospitals, we put the patient first in all we do and deliver world-class treatment that is both accessible and affordable. We are convinced that such medical discoveries will alter the lives of many more individuals who are unable to undergo traditional heart surgery.”
