Apollo Hospitals Chennai Performs World’s First Robotic Cancer Surgery for Lymph Node Removal Using Hugo RAS Platform
Chennai, May 27, 2026: Apollo Hospitals Chennai has achieved a major milestone in advanced cancer care by successfully performing the world’s first Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy (VEIL) using the Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) system through a lateral approach. The innovative minimally invasive surgery was performed on a 40-year-old penile cancer patient, who recovered well without any major post-operative complications.
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| (3rd from left) Dr. Madhav Tiwari, Consultant - Urologist, Uro-Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon; (4th from left) Dr. N Ragavan, Senior Consultant – Urologist, Uro-Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon; (5th from left) Dr. Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai Region |
Addressing reporters at a press meet held in Chennai, hospital authorities stated that the uniqueness of the procedure lies in the lateral approach, where surgeons access the operative field from the side of the thigh instead of the conventional middle approach. This technique helps minimise damage to the skin and lymphatic channels while significantly reducing post-surgical complications and lymph fluid leakage.
Press meet Youtube Video link 👇
Doctors explained that inguinal lymph node removal is commonly required when cancers such as penile, vulval, and vaginal cancers spread to the groin lymph nodes. Traditionally, the surgery involves large incisions and prolonged recovery. However, robotic-assisted VEIL surgery enables surgeons to perform the procedure through tiny incisions using highly precise robotic instruments and enhanced visual guidance, thereby improving patient recovery and reducing surgical trauma.
Speaking on the achievement, Dr. Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai Region said, “Apollo’s commitment to advanced medical technology and innovation continues to reach new heights every day. I am truly happy and grateful to be part of a progressive healthcare institution that remains dedicated to clinical excellence and improving patients’ quality of life through world-class care.”
Highlighting the significance of the surgery, Dr. N Ragavan, Senior Consultant – Urologist, Uro-Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon said the achievement was the result of months of meticulous planning, clinical precision, and teamwork. “Performing the world’s first robotic VEIL surgery using the Hugo RAS platform through the lateral approach was both challenging and rewarding. This success will help improve patient outcomes and further strengthen the future of minimally invasive cancer care,” he noted.
Dr. Madhav Tiwari, Consultant - Urologist, Uro-Oncologist and Robotic Surgeon said that cancers requiring inguinal lymph node removal are relatively rare but demand highly specialised surgical expertise. He added that advanced robotic-assisted procedures like VEIL are transforming cancer treatment by reducing complications, minimising surgical trauma, and enabling faster healing.
Hospital officials also stated that Apollo Hospitals has already been performing robotic uro-oncology surgeries involving the prostate, kidney, and bladder using the Hugo RAS System. With the successful completion of this VEIL procedure, the hospital has now completed the full spectrum of robotic uro-oncology procedures using the advanced robotic platform.
The surgery was carried out by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. N Ragavan and Dr. Madhav Tiwari, with anaesthesia support led by Dr. Pradeep Chiruvar. The hospital described the successful treatment as another significant step toward precision-driven and technologically advanced cancer care in India.
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