India’s first minimally invasive- Robotic Hybrid Revascularisation performed at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai

(From Left to Right ) Dr.Damodharan, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals, Dr Frank Vanpraet, Director of Robotic and Minimally Invasive cardiac surgery, OLV Hospital, Aalst, Belgium and Dr. M M. Yusuf - Cardiothoracic surgeon specialising in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Apollo Hospitals seen along with the patient.

India’s first minimally invasive- Robotic Hybrid Revascularisation performed at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai

Chennai: Apollo Hospitals, Asia’s largest and most trusted multi-specialty chain of hospitals became the first centre in India to perform minimally invasive- Robotic Hybrid Revascularisation surgery to treat blocks in two major blood vessels to improve blood flow to the heart. The cutting-edge procedure gave a new lease of life to a63 year old femalepatient from Chennai.

Robotic Minimally Invasive Hybrid Revascularisation is a procedure that combines minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) and angiography stenting procedure with Robotic assistance to achieve precision while treating patients with multi vessel coronary artery disease.

Mrs. J. Malliga,63 year old lady from Ambattur(Chennai) was brought to Apollo Hospitals Chennai on 18^th February,2018with worsening chest pain that was persistent over 6 months. It was identified that she had blocks in two of the major blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. Patients with such severe blockage are mostly treated with a conventional Bypass surgery (by splitting the central chest bone) which is an intense procedure that needs a longer recovery time post-surgery which is over three to four months.

Dr. M M. Yusuf - Cardiothoracic surgeon specialising in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Apollo Hospitals and his team decided to use a minimally invasive technique rather than the traditional approach on the patient. This minimally invasive-Hybrid Revascularisation procedure with Robotic assistanceallows the surgeon to work on a beating heart through a small chest incision (small thoracotomy) without having to split the chest bone.

Dr. M M. Yusufand team performed this procedure with a unique two stage approach using Robotic assistance. Two of the three major blood vessel of the patient was severely blocked reducing the heart function completely. She also had blocks in other vessels, which could be treated either with surgery or angiography stent insertion.As the patient was a not convinced with a conventional bypass, Dr Yusuf performed the Minimally Invasive CABG using a robot under the guidance of Dr Frank Vanpraet, Director of Robotic and Minimally Invasive cardiac surgery, OLV Hospital, Aalst, Belgium.This procedure helped quick recovery and major morbidity.

Describing the procedureDr. M M. Yusuf - Cardiothoracic surgeon specialising in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Apollo Hospitalssaid,“In the thoracotomy -beating heart approach, the surgeon can perform the operation through a tiny incision under the left nipple (four or five centimetres wide) while the heart continues to beat. This technique lowers the risk of complications that arises if a conventional bypass method is used. The patients have reduced pain and less need for postoperative pain medication, smaller scars, a shorter stay in the hospital and a faster recovery.”

He added, “As a stage two approach the patientunderwent Angiography and Drug Eluting Stent insertion to the remaining blockages in the coronary artery under specialised Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance. This was performed by Dr.Damodharan, Senior Consultant Cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals,Chennai. The patient had excellent results in the check angiography after stent insertion and surgery.This patient was very cooperative and recovered in 48 hours and was discharged.”

Robotic assisted CABG is the least invasive method of minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Blood loss, pain are negligible and it reduces hospital stay with extremely quick recovery. This procedure would be suitable to treat many patients with multi-vessel vessel coronary artery disease. Patients can return back to full normal activity with 2 weeks.

Dr. Mohammad Yusuf and team had earlier in March 2018 performed India’s first Minimally Invasive Hybrid Revascularisation procedure (without Robotic assistance) on a 53 year old man saving him from a triple vessel blocks.

ABOUT APOLLO HOSPITALS

It was in 1983, that Dr. Prathap Reddy made a pioneering endeavour by launching India’s first corporate hospital - Apollo Hospitals in Chennai. Over the years Apollo Hospitals has established itself as home to the largest cardiac practice in India with over 160,000 cardiac surgeries. Apollo Hospitals is also the world’s largest private cancer care provider and runs the world’s leading solid organ transplant program.

As Asia’s largest and most trusted healthcare group, its presence includes 9,215 beds across 64 Hospitals, 2,500 Pharmacies, over 90 Primary Care and Diagnostic Clinics, 110  plus Telemedicine Centres and 80 plus Apollo Munich Insurance branches spanning   the length and breadth of the Country.

As an integrated healthcare service provider with Health Insurance services, Global Projects Consultancy capability, over 15 medical education centres and a Research Foundation with a focus on global Clinical Trials, epidemiological studies, stem cell & genetic research Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of new medical breakthroughs with the most recent investment being that of commissioning the first Proton Therapy Center across Asia, Africa and Australia in Chennai, India. Every four days, the Apollo Hospitals Group touches a million lives, in its mission to bring healthcare of International standards within the reach of every individual.

In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo's contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan in 2010. For more than 30 years, the Apollo Hospitals Group has continuously excelled and maintained leadership in medical innovation, world-class clinical services and cutting-edge technology. Our hospitals are consistently ranked amongst the best hospitals globally for advanced medical services and research.