Safdarjung Hospital: Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital has created history by robotically replacing the valve of a patient suffering from rare diseases (ccTGA and Dextrocardia). Learn the full story.

Safdarjung Hospital Robotic Surgery

Delhi's VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital performed a feat that brought glory to India worldwide. The Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at Safdarjung Hospital performed the first robotic heart surgery in the world, a feat never before seen in medical history. This surgery was performed on a patient whose heart structure was completely different from that of a normal human and was extremely complex from birth.

What was the patient's illness?

First, let's find out what the patient was suffering from. Normally, our hearts are on the left side of the chest, but this patient had two very rare and unusual birth defects.

• Dextrocardia: This is a physical condition in which a person's heart is located on the right side of the chest instead of the left. This condition affects approximately one in a million people.
• Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries: This condition is even more complex. The lower parts of the heart are shaped differently than normal. Simply put, the part of the heart that should be responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body is actually pumping blood to the lungs. This causes the right side of the heart to experience significant pressure to pump blood throughout the body.

Due to these two congenital disorders, the patient's AV valve had become completely damaged. The valve acts like a door in the heart. Due to this damage, the patient's heart function was steadily declining, and his life was in danger.

What was the challenge before the doctors?

The patient's heart was on the right side, and the veins inside the heart were connected in reverse. Therefore, performing surgery using the traditional method of incision in the chest would have been extremely dangerous. Dr. Anubhav Gupta and his team decided to utilize modern robotic technology to resolve this problem. Typically, when robotic heart surgery is performed, the machine is inserted through the right side of the chest, as the heart is on the left side. However, this patient's heart was already on the right side. Therefore, the doctors devised a completely new method.

How did this magical surgery happen?

The doctors made complete preparations before going to the operation theatre.

• CT scan and 3D images: First, a CT scan of the patient's heart was performed. Then, a 3D image was created using a computer. This gave doctors a very precise view of the patient's heart, identifying which veins were located where.
• Operation without cutting the bone: This operation wasn't performed using the traditional method of cutting the chest bone down the middle. Instead, doctors simply made a few small incisions in the patient's chest.
• The robot's magic: Through these holes, the robot's thin instruments were inserted into the body. Using a high-definition 3D camera, doctors could see a large, clear image of the heart on a screen. The doctors sat outside and instructed the robot while it removed the damaged heart valve and replaced it with a new one.

What benefits did robotic surgery bring to the patient?

• By not cutting the bone, the patient got relief from severe pain.
• Due to small cuts, the patient lost very little blood.
• Due to the absence of major wounds, the risk of infection was almost eliminated.
• Since the wound is small, the patient will be able to recover very quickly and go home.

The team behind this success

This historic achievement was achieved under the leadership of Dr. Kavita Sharma, Director of Safdarjung Hospital. The team of experienced doctors, led by Professor (Dr.) Anubhav Gupta, Head of the Department of CTVS, made this seemingly impossible task possible through their ingenuity and the effective use of modern robotic technology.