Advanced robot aided technology eliminated the need for three separate surgeries, reducing trauma and recovery time for an elderly patient 

Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road has set another global benchmark in clinical excellence by successfully performing the world’s first reported combined robot-assisted heart bypass surgery, robot assisted groin hernia repair, and circumcision under a single anaesthesia on an 81-year-old patient. The highly complex, multidisciplinary surgeries enabled the elderly patient to avoid three separate surgeries, significantly reducing surgical risk, prolonged hospital stay, exposure to infection and recovery time. The surgeries were performed by a multi disciplinary team of doctors including Dr. Sudarshan G T, Director  MICS & Robotic Cardiac Surgery, Dr. Saurabh Mishra, Director  GI, Minimal Access & Bariatric Surgery and Dr. Mahendra Jain, Consultant Urology, demonstrating excellence in multidisciplinary collaboration and advanced robotic surgical expertise.

The 81-year-old patient from Mysore initially presented to Fortis Bannerghatta Road with a painful groin hernia requiring surgical intervention. However, during the pre-operative evaluation, he complained of mild chest pain and breathlessness. Further diagnostic testing revealed severe blockages in three major coronary arteries requiring an urgent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Additionally, the patient was diagnosed with phimosis, a urological condition causing painful urination and increasing the risk of recurrent urinary tract infections.

Considering the patient’s advanced age and the need for three separate surgical conditions, performing individual procedures would have required multiple rounds of anesthesia, prolonged recovery, and increased surgical risk. Following detailed multidisciplinary discussions and after obtaining informed consent from the patient and his family, the medical team decided to perform all three surgeries during a single operative session using a robot-assisted approach wherever clinically appropriate.

During the surgery, Dr. Sudarshan GT performed a minimally invasive robot-assisted coronary artery bypass surgery which took approximately 2.5 hours. This was immediately followed by a robotic groin hernia repair performed by Dr. Saurabh Mishra, lasting approximately one hour. Finally, Dr. Mahendra Jain performed a circumcision with frenuloplasty (a minor corrective procedure) in approximately 30 minutes to permanently treat the phimosis. All three procedures were successfully completed under a single anaesthesia without complications. Notably, the patient did not require any blood transfusion during or after the surgery. Following the surgery, the patient was closely monitored in the ICU for 12 hours and was discharged in a stable condition after three days and was able to return to his regular daily activities within two weeks.

Giving details of the case, Dr. Sudarshan G T, Director  MICS & Robotic Cardiac Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road said, “Performing three complex surgeries under single anaesthesia allowed us to avoid repeated surgeries while reducing the overall physiological stress on the patient. This first reported case demonstrates how advanced robotic technology and multidisciplinary expertise can safely expand the boundaries of minimally invasive cardiac surgery and significantly improve outcomes for patients with multiple co existing surgical conditions.” 

Dr. Saurabh Mishra, Director GI, Minimal Access & Bariatric Surgery, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, said, “. Instead of subjecting an elderly patient to three separate surgeries and multiple recoveries, we were able to address all the surgical conditions during one operative session. Robotic surgery offers enhanced precision, smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, less postoperative pain, faster recovery, and shorter hospital stays.

Dr. Mahendra Jain, Consultant  Urology, Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road, said, “Although circumcision with frenuloplasty is a relatively straightforward procedure, delaying treatment could have continued to affect the patient’s urinary function and quality of life. Combining it safely with two other major surgeries under the same anaesthesia eliminated the need for another hospital admission and another surgical procedure. This case highlights how comprehensive multi-disciplinary planning can deliver complete, patient-centric care in a single sitting.”

Mr. Gautham CB, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road said, “This landmark achievement reflects our commitment to clinical excellence, innovation, and patient-centred care. Successfully performing the world’s first combined robotic heart bypass,robotic hernia surgery and circumcision under a single anaesthesia demonstrates the strength of our multidisciplinary teams and advanced robotic surgical capabilities. At Fortis Bannerghatta, we continue to invest in cutting edge technology and highly skilled clinical expertise to deliver world-class care, improve patient outcomes, and make complex procedures safer with faster recovery.