First robotic spleen preserving surgery performed

The Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS Hospitals) Secunderabad, has emerged as the first centre in India for achieving the distinction of performing robotic spleen preserving distal pancreatectomy on a male patient.

Commenting on the breakthrough procedure on Friday, Dr Daga Sachin V, Consultant Surgical Gastroenterologist, KIMS Hospitals said, “The case is about a 39-year-old patient from Hyderabad, who regularly suffered due to dropping sugar levels. This phenomenon is found in one in one lakh people.

The patient was diagnosed with a small mass in pancreas formed by insulin secreting cells (Insulinoma). As opposite to other diabetic cases, this patient had high levels of insulin in body, resulting in hypoglycemia or low sugar levels. He used to drink lots of sugar containing drinks to avoid low sugars, which resulted in weight increase by 12kgs.”

The spleen preserving distal pancreatectomy is a relative common procedure often performed by open or laparoscopic approach. The Robotic spleen preserving distal pancreatectomy has been introduced by KIMS Hospitals for the first time in Hyderabad.

Dr Sachin said, “The vessels in a vital organ like spleen are closely adherent to pancreas; it requires meticulous dissection. Robotic surgery due to small incisions causes fewer traumas to the body and greater surgeon precision.

It provides benefits over traditional open procedures that include shorter hospital stay, less blood loss and fewer complications, including less risk of infection and faster return to normal activities.”

The patient was discharged within four days of operation. “The sugar levels of the patient returned to normal and his weight gain was controlled,” said the doctor.