Lucknow: In a landmark achievement in minimally invasive surgical care, Professor Dr. Gyan Chand, a leading surgeon at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, has successfully completed 200 robotic endocrine surgeries, marking a “double century” in complex robotic procedures. This makes him one of the first surgeons at the institute to reach this significant milestone in robotic endocrine surgery.
The achievement was highlighted after Dr. Gyan Chand and his surgical team successfully performed a highly complex robotic thyroid surgery on a 25-year-old patient from Hardoi. The patient had been suffering for nearly 18 years from a progressively enlarging swelling in the front of the neck, eventually diagnosed as a large multinodular goiter with retrosternal extension.
Complex Clinical Condition Managed with Robotic Precision
Medical investigations revealed hypothyroidism in the patient, who had been on regular medication (Thyronorm 62.5 mcg daily). Imaging studies, including ultrasound and CT scan, confirmed a large multinodular goiter with retrosternal extension and lymphocytic thyroiditis. FNAC results were categorized as Bethesda II.
Given the complexity of the condition—including gland enlargement extending into the mediastinum—this case was considered highly challenging for conventional surgical approaches.
After detailed preoperative assessment, the surgical team performed a robotic total thyroidectomy using the BABA (bilateral axillo-breast approach). During surgery, both thyroid lobes were found to be significantly enlarged, with the right lobe extending into the mediastinum. Critical structures, including the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands, were carefully preserved.
The removed thyroid gland weighed 149 grams, with the right lobe measuring 12 × 7 × 3 cm and the left lobe measuring 8 × 6.5 × 2 cm.
Successful Outcome and Clinical Significance
Post-surgery, the patient remained stable with normal voice function and maintained calcium levels, indicating successful preservation of vital structures.
Speaking on the achievement, Professor Gyan Chand stated that this case demonstrates how advanced robotic systems, when handled by experienced surgeons, can safely overcome the limitations of traditional surgery, even in highly complex endocrine cases.
He further emphasized that careful patient selection, precision planning, and surgical expertise are key factors behind the success of such advanced procedures.
This milestone reinforces robotic endocrine surgery as a safe, precise, and cosmetically superior option, particularly for challenging thyroid and endocrine disorders.
