Patients come to Thangam Robotic Institute, Namakkal for surgeries from across the country

Thangam Robotic Institute, a pioneer in robotic lung and oesophageal surgeries, is making Namakkal, a small town in Tamilnadu the hub for robotic-assisted thoracic surgeries by performing over 250 procedures by using advanced robotic technology, da Vinci. Under the leadership of Dr. Saravana Rajamanickam, the institute has recently become the first hospital in India to perform 250 robotic thoracic procedures. This includes lung resections—procedures that remove part or all of a lung to treat conditions such as lung cancer, infections, and other diseases—as well as advanced tracheobronchial procedures involving the reconstruction of airways.

“While many patients still believe that top-quality surgical care is limited to metropolitan centres, pockets of excellence are emerging in smaller cities. With a highly focused skillset, advanced technology, and the inherent cost advantages of operating in a tier-two city, we are delivering outcomes that not only match but often surpass those of major hospitals — and at a significantly lower cost for patients,” explained Dr. Saravana Rajamanickam. “Our model proves that with the right expertise and infrastructure, world-class healthcare can be made accessible and affordable without the need to travel long distances.”

Commenting on the enhanced adoption of robotic technology, he said, “Initially, only 30% of lung resections were performed robotically, but this figure has now increased to 52%, reflecting a clear shift towards robotic-assisted surgery. In line with global advancements, now we are actively adopting robotic segmentectomy, a technique that removes only the affected lung segment while preserving more lung function.”

While talking about how early detection coupled with robotic technology can help preserve more lung tissues and functions, Dr. Rajamanickam added that, “As early detection of lung tumours improves through widespread CT screening, we are seeing more patients with smaller tumours, where we are able to do segmentectomy (removal of just the affected part) with the help of da Vinci platform. Along with that, robotic staplers on the da Vinci platform with enhanced articulation further facilitate precise resection, making this approach a better alternative to conventional approaches. By adopting this modality, we are able to offer patients a less invasive option with better lung preservation, reduced complications, and better quality of life.”

The hospital has fully transitioned to robotic surgery for sleeve and tracheobronchial resections—procedures that remove and reconstruct parts of the airway—replacing VATS due to the improved precision of robotic-assisted techniques. Of the 61 robotic tracheobronchial resections performed, 56 successfully preserved the lung—an outcome rarely possible with traditional methods.

“Previously, many of these patients would have lost an entire lung, as traditional surgical methods lacked the precision needed to remove tumours while preserving healthy lung tissue. Now, with robotic-assisted airway reconstruction, we can perform highly precise and minimally invasive procedures that not only ensure complete tumour removal but also preserve lung function, significantly improving the patient’s quality of life and long-term respiratory health,” Dr. Rajamanickam added.