As a kid I was always fascinated with the words of Yodha in the Star Wars movie. Relearning became part of my life . To be a skilled robotic surgeon one has to tune ourselves to hold back certain laparoscopic skills and operate like an open Surgeon.
Initially when Robot came to KIMS, they used to call Surgeons from USA to train us. These Surgeons used to think they are super humans and used to do everything themselves without allowing anyone to actually do . I realised my colleagues were not happy about this mentoring
A mentor has to make surgery simple so that our colleagues pick up fast and make trainees operate, give some freedom and guide them at vital points. That’s why I readily agreed to be a Robotic Mentor so that these lacunae are closed. In the last 12 years we changed the training pattern such that they are able to operate on their own and they dont call us back, over a period of time mentors increased from rest of India
When I entered the World of Robotic Surgery many felt I was a mad fellow as we had to go to USA for training, need to spend lot of hours to do them and also we won’t not viable monetarily. We get more Surgeons fees in Laparoscopy and open surgeries as the burden of expensive robotic instruments is not there. Many often said they are robots and they don’t need a machine. But today same people bought robots and using them. People will change and accept us once proved beneficial. Sky is the limit for innovation.
The first time I was asked to to give tips for surgery was in Rose Well Park Cancer Center where a Surgeon told me they get less Esophagectomy cases and he is having more leaks there. It was my robotic training time and I was in USA, I thought he was testing me but I did share my thoracoscopic experience.
Later on I give credit to Vatikutti organisation ,Mr. Laxmi Prasad for encouraging me to initiate and help Surgeons in various Institutes across India. And Intuitive now with its dedicated engineers, technical experts request me to Mentor Robotic Surgeries. It was scary initially for a small time surgeon from Hyderbad but being a early adopter of robotics gave me confidence and I started guiding newer but senior Surgeons.
In this journey I started meeting great teachers and to guide them we have to be more than perfect and to be so started spending more time on Robot, visit renowned Centers in Seoul, Hong Kong. I started learning from everyone in this process and acquiring more and more expertise.
From Hrishikesh to Chennai, from Mumbai to Kolkatta I visited many Centers and interacted with my teachers, seniors and juniors, shared my experience and it was reverse learning to me too.
Getting up at 2.30 to catch a flight and return after midnight was a routine and it have great satisfaction and meaning to my life. Paisa was not there, pain of travel was there but it was covered by the Pleasure of teaching and involving in another robotic case is there. These 3 P’s have become me and God has been supporting me in this journey
HRISHIKESH: AIIMS has my favourite Robot Xi with dual console. It’s a treat to operate on this system. The Institute is led by a dynamic director and has exemplary Surgeons. I was there during their 200 th case and it’s celebration. It also helped me in visiting the holy places there and in Haridwar. I paid tribute to my father and mother at Ganga Kinare and thanked them for my upbringing. Ganga Harathi sends waves of reverence in believers.
JODHPUR: Head of Dept of Gynec Oncology and Dr. Shashank a dynamic young Gyneac Oncologist have invited for few cases. Again AIIMS there has dual console and director EA’s mu senior Dr. Sanjeev Mishra who helped me in Kidwai where he was my room mate. I still remember I starved for a day as I dint know the area well and my other room mates ignored me . But he realised my plight and offered me his cook. Kidwai was a jungle ot aught me HOW TO LIVE ,my own state mates didn’t help me but others did.
CHANDIGARH : Fortis too has Xi and we had done gynaec cancers there, I love Chandigarh as I had stayed in PGI for a month and worked in surgery department as a postgraduate.
AHMEDABAD: HCG is a renowned hospital there and dynamic surgeons have come together and established the center. Dr. Jagdish sir invited me for few cases , a very dignified man and very principled. Had met Dr. Deepak Limbachia there. Fantastic gynaec surgeon and he treated me to tasty Gujarati food. Visited Gandhiji’s Ashram, it was very emotional and a moment of pride to have seen the place where Mahatma lived. It’s very rare to have a great soul like him in this modern world.
NEW DELHI: My classmate Dr. Kalpana a very talented ENT urge on has asked m to demonstrated neck scarless Thyroidectomy. It was scary when I visited it the first time as they didn’t have Chung retractor which is vital in this surgery. Then we used suture to lift flap and hooked it a stand and completed the surgery. Later on she could secure the retractor.
LUCKNOW: SGPGI remains in my eart for ever. We did the first robotic case in Uttar Pradesh and SGPGI. Dr. Amit Agrwal from dept. of endocrine surgery as very encouraging and we did more than 25 scarless thyroidectomies in the institute by BABA, Trans Axillary etc,. So also helped initiate Urologist their first case. Lucknow has heritage buildings and SGPGI enriched my scarless Thyroidectomy experience.
KOLKATTA: Dr. Robin Thambudorai ,head of Thoracic surgery invited me fo Esophagectomy and Lung surgery. He is a great academician, good surgeon and great host. Came few times and enjoyed the surgery and his company. Met my student Dt. Sagar Sen a Surgical Oncologist there. Visited Kali temple and Shri Ramakrishna temple there. Love the rasgullas there .
MUMBAI: My biggest dream was operating at Tata Memorial Hospital there and Dr. George a Thoracic Surgeon asked me to demonstrate a Esophagectomy. I had the opportunity of showing my GAJA’s technique there to George and Dr. Sabita Jiwani. TATA is Great Institute with exemplary surgeons and Great protocol;s. They do so much service there and God will always bless them. Dr.Anil HEROOR had invited me for a case, his first another terrific surgeon at Fortis. The HIMALAYAN MAN Dr. Lala my senior at Kidwai invited me for few cases at Hinduja Hospital and his center has the only motion table in India which moves with robot. Nanavati Hospital made famous by Amitabh Bachan , invited me twice for robotic cases. Dr. Donald at Mumbai Hospital is another surgeon with whom I did cases twice.
MANGALORE: I visited thrice Yenopaya University. My teacher Dr. M Vijay Kumar Sir invited me to demonstrate and it was a moment of pride for me helping my teacher. And have a great buddy there Dr. Akbar, a clean hearted, jovial man. Gretaly appreciate Vijy Kumar sir for his crystal clear concepts, fine surgery and leadership capabilities.
PUNE: Was invited by Ruby hospital for surgeries twice .
BANGALORE: Apollo, Kidwai have good systems and had opportunity to demonstrated few cases. KIDWAI is an excellent surgical center and helped me to become onco surgeon during my student days.
COCHIN: Dr. Prakash one of the best Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeon I have seen called me to Aster hospital twice and he has another colleague Dr. Prasad who is good surgeon.
CHENNAI: Glamourous Bariatric surgeon Dr. Raj Palaniappan at Apollo had invited me to do a Robotic Esophagectomy at Apollo, It was my first case in Chennai and he forced me to come there as he didn’t have anyone doing it there at that time. Me and Vikas flew there and completed the case.
My most memorable experience was going and helping Dr. Arvind Krishna Murthy,Head of Thoracic Surgery at ADYAR CANCER INSTITUTE. We did a robotic Esophagectomy there. Cancer Institute was nurtured,and developed by Legends Dr. Krishna Murthy sir and Madame Dr. Shantha. The institute is most academic, unbiased, protocol based hospital. My dream of operating at Adyar was fulfilled. Dr. Arvind and Dr. Ramakrishnan are two dynamic and academic specialists there I have friendship with.
COIMBATORE:Had gone there to help my friend Dr. Firoz Rajan and GI surgeon Dr. Ganesan there twice in Kovan Medical center.
PONDICHERRY: JIPMER another academic institute I visited thanks to Dr.KalayaRasan there and met Dr. Prashant there. Pondicherry is a very pleasant city and love its beaches and the ashram.
VISHAKAPATNAM: Dr. Muralikrishna of MG cancer institute had invited me for a case. And it was the first case in Andhra Pradesh
APOLLO HYDERABD : Had helped with robotic pericardectomy for Dr. Gokhle’s first robotic case and had to do it in privacy for certain reasons.
Can’t go on as the list is endless BUT MY REWARD was I am blessed to have met these fantastic surgeons , operated in great academic institutions and interacted with variety of robotic teams. This rainbow of experience has enriched me, made me more humble, increased my hunger to teach more and RELEARN MORE.
You are a great person
Thank you for there for us🙏🙏
Obsolutly awesome sir.
You are the finest person ,God bless you with Abundance of happiness