Media Release
Udupi, Dec 23: Kasturba Hospital, Manipal has reached a significant milestone with the successful completion of 50 robotic-assisted surgeries, reinforcing its commitment to advanced and patient-centric surgical care.
The robotic-assisted surgery programme was introduced in August 2025, and within a short period, the hospital has achieved this landmark through consistently positive clinical outcomes. These procedures were predominantly performed for oncology and urology conditions, areas where precision and minimally invasive approaches are particularly critical.
Robotic-assisted surgery is an advanced surgical technique in which the surgeon remains in complete control throughout the procedure. The robotic system does not function autonomously; instead, it serves as a sophisticated surgical tool that enhances the surgeon’s dexterity, precision, stability, and visualisation. This enables accurate execution of complex procedures while ensuring optimal patient safety.
The adoption of robotic-assisted surgery offers several clinical advantages, including smaller and more precise incisions, reduced postoperative pain, minimal blood loss, lower risk of infection, and faster recovery. In addition to improved clinical outcomes, the procedure is available at a comparatively affordable cost, significantly lower than that of metropolitan centres. Patients benefit from shorter hospital stays, earlier return to normal daily activities, and better cosmetic results when compared with conventional surgical techniques.
Patient feedback has been consistently positive, with many reporting early recovery, reduced discomfort, and enhanced overall surgical experience. Published studies further corroborate these outcomes, indicating high patient satisfaction rates ranging from 85% to 98%, particularly in terms of quality-of-life improvement.
A 74-year-old patient, who underwent robotic-assisted surgery for a rectal polyp has reported a smooth and comfortable recovery. He experienced minimal pain and was able to walk and resume routine activities within 2–3 days after the procedure. He highlighted that such advanced technological treatments are available at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal at a significantly lower cost compared to major metropolitan cities.
The patient said the surgical incision was so small and precise that he was not even aware of the wound site. Expressing satisfaction with the outcome, he credited robotic surgery for its precision, reduced pain, and faster recovery, and recommended it to patients where clinically appropriate.