It’s no longer surgeons that will greet you operation theatres; instead you’ll see four-armed robots performing surgical procedure for heart disease, breast cancer, uterine cancer, or prostate cancer. It sounds like fiction, but it’s very much possible.

There are over 500 robots operating in the US and some 200 in Europe. There is one in India at Delhi-based AIIMS Hospital, performing surgeries on patients for various problems. Now, it’s Mumbai’s Hinduja Hospital that’s considering procuring the help of artificial intelligence for surgeons performing operations.

According to the recent experiments, robotic technology can be used in any kind of surgery, but it is particularly useful when it comes to prostatectomy — removal of a cancerous prostate, as removing it is a delicate procedure, compounded by the gland’s proximity to the nerves and tissues controlling continence and sexual function.

Attending the day-long first international symposium on radical prostatectomy and robotics at Hinduja Hospital on Saturday, the director of robotic prostatectomy, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Centre, Dr Ashutosh Tewari, said, “Robotic surgery, since it’s inception in 1999, is known to be superior compared to traditional open radical surgery or laparoscopic procedures.”

Dr. Tewari explained, “With the da Vinci Surgical Robot System, the surgeon performs the operation seated at a control console. Advanced optics allow high magnification and 3-D perspective.”

Dr. Tewari said, "Ten years ago, I used to do open surgeries for prostrate cancer (a 10-inch-long incision is taken to reach the prostrate gland). Then slowly, we moved on to laparoscopy (minimally-invasive surgery) and now routinely use robotics to operate on patients." "Since the cuts are tiny, blood loss is minimal, the pain and discomfort to the patient is lesser and recovery is faster," said Dr Tewari.

Also present at the symposium, Dr. Anil Bradoo, consultant urologist and secretary, Mumbai Urological Society, said, “However, the robot alone costs about Rs7 crore. Apart from this, there are some consumables in the machine which can be used just eight times, which cost Rs40,000 to replace. Then there is also maintenance-related expenditure. This makes it very expensive for the hospital to bear the cost.”

"A laparascopy costs double the price of a conventional surgery, and the robotoic surgery would cost twice,” said Dr Bradoo. GB Davar, medical director, Hinduja Hospital, said, “Nevertheless, we are not averse to considering robotic surgery.”

According to Dr Bradoo, robotic technology will help Indian surgeons deal with the ever-increasing number of patients. Urging all men above the age of 50 to undergo a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, Dr Bradoo said, “In India, there is very little awareness about prostate cancer. Very few men are willing to talk about prostate problems.”