Max Hospital, Nagpur, have achieved a significant milestone in advanced cancer care by successfully treating a complex case of food pipe (esophageal) cancer using state-of-the-art robotic surgery. The procedure highlights the growing role of robotic onco-surgery in managing high-risk cancers involving critical anatomical structures.
The patient, a 47-year-old resident of Nagpur, visited the OPD of Dr. Abhinav Deshpande, Director – Surgical Oncology & Robotic Oncosurgery at Max Hospital, Nagpur, after experiencing difficulty in swallowing food for nearly three months. Detailed investigations confirmed a diagnosis of esophageal cancer, with the tumour found to be densely attached to vital structures, including the covering of the heart.
The patient had also been living with multiple comorbidities, including diabetes and hypertension, making the case particularly challenging. Following a detailed evaluation, the medical team recommended robotic total esophagectomy, an advanced minimally invasive procedure, as the safest and most effective option.
Commenting on the case, Dr. Abhinav Deshpande, Director – Surgical Oncology & Robotic Oncosurgery, Max Hospital, Nagpur, said, “We removed the entire cancer-affected food pipe using a robotic surgical system. The stomach was then reshaped into a narrow tube and carefully joined to the remaining upper part of the food pipe in the neck, allowing the patient to swallow food normally. The robotic system enabled us to operate with extreme precision in a tight and sensitive area between the heart and the diaphragm, ensuring complete removal of the tumour along with surrounding lymph nodes.”
The surgery was performed using the Da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, with both chest and abdominal components completed through tiny incisions using micro-fine robotic instruments. The benefits were immediately evident—minimal blood loss, no requirement for blood transfusion.
Following surgery, the patient made a remarkably swift recovery. He was shifted out of the ICU to a regular room the very next day and was encouraged to walk. By the sixth day, he was able to start oral intake and was discharged on the eighth day in a stable condition. Short-term follow-up confirms that the patient is currently cancer-free, with clear surgical margins achieved.
Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Deshpande further said, “This case demonstrates the transformative impact of robotic surgery in complex cancers. Our hospital is equipped with the Da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system, which offers unmatched precision, enhanced visualization, tremor filtration, and superior dexterity. In cancers of the esophagus and stomach, where surgery involves narrow and critical anatomical spaces, robotic technology allows safer resections, less pain, minimal blood loss, faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and an overall better quality of life for patients.”
This successful outcome reinforces Max Hospital, Nagpur’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge, patient-centric cancer care, and establishes robotic oncosurgery as a game-changer in the treatment of complex gastrointestinal cancers.
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