Chennai, 29th May 2024: Gleneagles HealthCity Chennai marks one year since the successful completion of its first robotic assisted Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) procedure. Over the past year, four additional robotic HIPEC procedures have been performed, with all patients currently under follow-up for up to six months.
The first patient, an 80-year-old woman from Chennai, was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer with peritoneal spread. Following a rigorous regimen of chemotherapy, she responded excellently, making her an ideal candidate for the complex CRS+HIPEC procedure. This minimally invasive surgery, involving the infusion of heated chemotherapy into the abdominal cavity, was successfully performed using robotic assistance, allowing for greater precision and reduced recovery time.
“After taking her family members into confidence, the decision for CRS+HIPEC surgery involved extensive consultation amongst various medical specialists, including anaesthesiologists, oncologists, surgeons, and intensive care unit teams. The CRS+HIPEC procedure was successful, with the patient returning to her normal routine by the second day post-surgery and was discharged on the sixth day. Follow-up appointments were uneventful, and she completed her remaining chemotherapy without any complications,” said Dr. S. Rajasundaram, Director – Institute of Oncology, Gleneagles HealthCity Chennai.
HIPEC treatment requires several months of rehabilitation, with fatigue being the most difficult element of the process. Staying active and maintaining good nutrition to keep up energy level is more essential for a speedy recovery added, Dr S Rajasundaram
“Gleneagles HealthCity Chennai is the first Hospital in Chennai to perform the first Robotic assisted CRS+HIPEC procedure on 80-year-old women in India, following this groundbreaking procedure, Gleneagles HealthCity Chennai has successfully performed four more robotic HIPEC procedures. It is now the new normal as our patients to prefer HIPEC procedure rather than conventional surgery. It is faster and quicker with the patient being discharged earlier,” said Mr Anurag Yadav, CEO, Gleneagles Hospitals India.
“Robotic surgery has revolutionized minimally invasive procedures, making previously deemed inoperable surgeries now feasible. This advancement offers greater precision, improved oncological outcomes, enhanced patient safety, and reduced treatment-related complications. Our experience demonstrates that even complex oncological procedures like CRS+HIPEC can be safely performed using robotic surgery, resulting in minimal morbidity for patients with advanced abdominal cancers,” said Dr Nageswar Rao K, Chief Executive Officer, Gleneagles HealthCity Chennai.
These patients are under regular follow-up and have shown promising progress over the last six months. This milestone underscores the hospital’s commitment to leveraging advanced robotic technology to improve patient outcomes and provide state-of-the-art cancer care.