Apollo Hospitals Chennai performs robotic cancer surgery for lymph node removal

Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, performed Video Endoscopic Inguinal Lymphadenectomy (VEIL), a minimally invasive, robot-assisted surgical procedure, using the Hugo Robotic-Assisted Surgery (RAS) system via a lateral approach in a patient with penile cancer. The 40-year-old patient recovered well, with no major post-operative complications.

The lateral approach allows surgeons to access the groin lymph nodes from the side of the thigh instead of the traditional midline incision, making the procedure less invasive. Inguinal lymph node removal is usually done in cancers like penile, vulval, and vaginal cancers, and is traditionally performed through open surgery, which can lead to wound-related complications and lymphatic leakage.

The robotic VEIL technique uses small incisions, robotic precision instruments, and enhanced visualisation, helping reduce tissue damage and improve recovery outcomes.

Apollo Hospitals has now extended the use of the Hugo RAS platform across the full range of uro-oncology surgeries, including prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers.

The team comprised of Ilankumaran Kaliamoorthy, CEO, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai Region, N. Ragavan, senior consultant, urologist, uro-oncologist and robotic surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, Madhav Tiwari, consultant – urologist, uro-oncologist and robotic surgeon, Apollo Speciality Hospitals Teynampet, Chennai, who noted improved recovery outcomes with robotic VEIL.