Fortis Hospital Anandpur Achieves Milestone with Robotic-Assisted Gallbladder Surgery on 74-Year-Old Woman with Severe Spinal Curvature

Achieves a Landmark Milestone by Performing the First-Ever Robotic Gallbladder Surgery on a Patient with Severe Spinal Deformity in India

Kolkata: Fortis Hospital Anandapur has set a new clinical benchmark in the realm of GI and Robotics surgery by successfully performing the first ever documented robot-assisted gallbladder surgery on a 74-year-old woman with severe spinal deformity. The patient was diagnosed with empyema of the gallbladder – a severe infection characterized by accumulation of pus within the gallbladder. The surgery was challenging due to the patient’s severe hunchback/spinal curvature. Owing to the spinal deformity, the doctor was unable to access the gall bladder as there was minimal space between the ribcage and the waist, leading to almost an absent belly. The team of doctors led by Dr. Udipta Ray, Director, Robotic, GI, and General Surgery, Fortis Hospital Anandapur, used advanced robotic technology to overcome the surgical challenge.

Prior to consulting Dr. Ray, the patient had undergone an unsuccessful laparoscopic surgery at a city – based hospital in Kolkata. However, the procedure was not successful and had to be stopped as the laparoscopic camera could only capture images of the patient’s rib margin due to the hunchback. Post this the patient came to Dr. Udipta Ray. Despite the complexity of the patient’s spinal structure, Fortis Hospital Anandapur took on this challenging case and successfully operated on her infected gallbladder.

Elaborating on the challenges involved in the surgery, Dr. Udipta Ray, Director of Robotic, GI and General Surgery, Fortis Anandapur, said, “Gallbladder empyema is a serious condition that can lead to life-threatening complications, such as a ruptured gallbladder or widespread infection and Hepatitis also in certain cases. It poses an even greater risk to older patients because of their weakened immune systems. In this case, the patient’s age, as well as her severe spinal deformity added to the complexity. The reduced space between her chest and abdomen limited the use of traditional laparoscopic techniques.”

“This is where robot-assisted surgery came to the rescue of the patient. Robot aided instruments offer a greater range of movement and enhanced 3D visualization of the robotic camera. It helps navigate anatomical challenges effectively. During the surgery, the pus-filled gallbladder was drained, the gallstones together with the diseased gallbladder were removed, and infection was controlled at its source. The entire surgery was completed in approximately two hours,” he further added.

Following the surgery, the patient had a painless recovery and was advised a specific dietary plan. This plan included small, frequent meals to help the body use bile more effectively and to support digestion. Medications were minimized after the infection was brought under control, ensuring a smoother recovery.

Mr. Ashish Mukherjee, Facility Director, Fortis Anandapur, Kolkata, commented, “This successful robotic-assisted procedure at Fortis Hospital highlights the importance of innovative surgical techniques in managing complex cases that pose significant challenges to traditional methods. The entire team has established a benchmark in the realm of robotic and GI surgery. With this achievement, once again we have proved that we are not only equipped with modern medical technology but also a team of eminent, highly skilled and brave physicians who are ready to take on challenges. We congratulate Dr. Udipta Ray and his dedicated team for their expertise and commitment to delivering excellence in patient care through these groundbreaking techniques.”