Last week, a 13-year-old patient handed me a beautiful painting she had made herself. It was thoughtful, colorful, and unmistakably sincere. In my practice, I have realized that gifts like these are never about the object itself. They are small windows into gratitude – the patient’s way of saying something that words sometimes struggle to … Read more
Last week, I had the opportunity to perform my first surgery using the Toumai robotic surgical platform developed by MedBot – one of the earliest installations of this technology in India. As surgeons, we constantly witness the evolution of technology, and it is important that we harness these advances for the benefit of our patients. … Read more
Below is the link to a recently performed robotic left adrenalectomy for a 14-year-old girl diagnosed with Cushing’s syndrome secondary to an adrenocortical tumor. Pediatric adrenal tumors are uncommon, and managing hormone-secreting lesions in this age group requires careful multidisciplinary planning involving endocrinology, anesthesia, critical care, and surgical oncology teams. A robotic approach was chosen … Read more
As an invited faculty to the Manipal Surgical Oncology Conference last week, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The energy, academic rigor, and collegiality on display were truly impressive. What stood out most was the young and dynamic Department of Surgical Oncology at Kasturba Medical College, led by Dr Naveen Kumar and Dr Nawaz Usman. … Read more
Last Sunday marked a quiet but meaningful milestone in my professional journey – the launch of a new surgical robot at our second hospital. At our larger center, robotic surgery has been part of routine oncologic practice for years, and only recently we procured an additional surgical robot – the latest available platform. Now, seeing … Read more
Last Friday, I had the privilege of joining the Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. John’s Medical College Hospital – a landmark moment for an institution that has shaped countless lives, including my own. Although I am not an alumnus of the institution, being part of the Department of Surgery as faculty from 2006 and later … Read more
It was the morning after surgery, and we were just about to step into the ward. The robotic anterior resection had gone smoothly the previous day, and every box in our ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) checklist was neatly ticked. “Urinary catheter removed?” I asked our resident. “Yes.” “Pain well controlled? No opioid requirement?” “Yes. … Read more
The Indian Association of Surgical Oncology (IASO)’s annual National Conference (NATCON 2025) once again reaffirmed the society’s vision of uniting surgical oncologists from across the world in advancing patient care, education, and research. This year, I had the privilege of chairing a scientific session featuring Dr Bruno Azevedo, an eminent member of the Brazilian Society … Read more
Today’s post is third in my series of robotic surgical videos. Just like my first and second published videos (https://youtu.be/88vHoIhCJVo, and https://youtu.be/baDT7HGTMeM?si=LINe2QWkHDigiphS I chose this particular video since I could not find this procedure described well elsewhere. I hope it helps other surgeons who set out to perform this surgery. Special thanks to Dr Khyati Melanta … Read more
The day began just like any other—with our tumor board meeting. As always, the focus was on patients, decisions, and treatment plans. But it was unlike a usual morning in the hospital. When I stepped in to the board room, I was greeted by the sight of a stunning pookalam, painstakingly created by our staff. … Read more