Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, has successfully performed a complex robotic intrathoracic tracheal cancer surgery on a 36-year-old male patient, marking a milestone in advanced robotic cancer surgery in Karnataka. The patient, who suffered from breathing difficulties, was discharged on the fourth day after surgery.
Procedure Details
The surgery was performed by the Department of Surgical Oncology at Kasturba Hospital, led by Dr. Naveena Kumar A N, with crucial support from the Department of Anesthesia. An endoscopy had revealed a tumor in the lower part of the windpipe. After a partial removal at an outside hospital, definitive treatment required complete removal of the residual tumor along with the affected lower segment of the trachea.
The robotic surgery involved complete removal of the tumor-affected lower part of the trachea, just above the bifurcation, followed by reconstruction by joining the healthy ends of the windpipe. The procedure was challenging because the team had to maintain continuous oxygenation of the lungs and keep the ventilation tube inside the windpipe throughout the surgery.
Advantages of Robotic Surgery
In conventional open surgery, the patient would have required a large chest incision, resulting in greater pain, longer recovery, and a more visible scar. With minimally invasive robotic surgery, the patient recovered well and was discharged on the fourth postoperative day. Dr. Naveena Kumar A N stated, "This surgery represents one of the most technically demanding procedures in robotic cancer surgery, requiring precise coordination between the surgical and anesthesia teams to maintain the patient's airway and oxygenation throughout. We are proud that our team could offer this minimally invasive option to our patient, sparing him a major chest incision and a long recovery. It reflects the level of advanced surgical care now available to patients in our region."
Team and Institutional Support
The surgical team included Dr. Nawaz Usman, Dr. Akhil Palod, Dr. Ananth Balakrishnan, and Dr. Preethi from the Department of Surgical Oncology, along with Professor Anitha N and Dr. Shreya from the Department of Anesthesia. Dr. Sudhakar Kantipudi, Chief Operating Officer of Teaching Hospitals at MAHE, congratulated the team, saying, "This achievement is a proud moment for Kasturba Hospital and reflects the skill and dedication of our doctors, nursing staff and technicians. We will continue to invest in advanced technology and expertise so that Kasturba Hospital can become a referral center for handling this kind of complex robotic cancer surgery in the future."
Broader Impact
At Kasturba Hospital, the Department of Surgical Oncology performs a wide spectrum of major robotic cancer surgeries involving the lung, thymus, esophagus, stomach, rectum, pancreas, liver, uterus, and kidney. Robotic surgery is also improving quality-of-life outcomes through function-preserving and organ-saving procedures, such as avoiding permanent stoma in select rectal cancers or enabling partial kidney removal in kidney cancer.
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), an Institution of Eminence, offers over 400 specializations across health sciences, management, law, humanities, and technology. Ranked 3rd in the NIRF 2025 rankings, MAHE continues to drive innovation in medical education and patient care.
