Lucknow: :In a first for India, doctors at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, have successfully performed a robotic thyroid surgery on a six-year-old girl, making her the youngest child in India to undergo this procedure.
The surgery was led by Prof. (Dr.) Gyan Chand and his team from the Department of Endocrine and Breast Surgery. Globally, the youngest reported patient to have undergone robotic thyroid surgery is a five-year-old girl from South Korea.
The child was brought to SGPGIMS for the management of a nodule in the thyroid gland.Unlike conventional surgery, which requires an incision in the neck, the robotic procedure was performed through tiny cuts hidden in the underarm and chest region. Advanced robotic technology provides higher resolution, which is especially helpful forchildren. This helped avoid a visible neck scar while allowing surgeons to operate with greater precision.The surgery was completed successfully without any complications. The child is recovering well.
Prof. (Dr.) Gyan Chand said, “This is a significant milestone for robotic endocrine surgery in India. Performing robotic thyroid surgery in a six-year-old child required meticulous planning and special modifications because of the child’s small body size. We are delighted that the surgery was successful and the child recovered well.” He added, “Robotic surgery combines precision with excellent cosmetic results. For children, avoiding a visible neck scar is an important advantage that improves quality of life. This achievement shows that with the right expertise and careful patient selection, advanced robotic surgery can be safely performed even in very young children.”Dr Gyan Chand credited the success to the coordinated efforts of the entire surgical team,including assistant professors Dr Rinelle Mascarenhasand Dr Prachi Krishnatrey, and senior residents Dr Mithlesh Wanchoo and Dr Azra Tasneem, along with the anaesthesia team led by Dr Sujeeth Gautham, nursing team including Mr Manoj, MrsVandana, Mrs Liji, and Mrs Neelam, and the rest of the operating team.
He said the case highlights the growing expertise in robotic surgery at SGPGIMS and marks another important milestone in advancing minimally invasive surgery for children in India.Prof. (Dr.) R.K. Dhiman, Director SGPGIMS, and Prof. (Dr.) Gaurav Agarwal, HOD of the Endocrine & Breast Surgery Department,congratulated the entire team.
With this achievement, India joins a select group of countries to have successfully performed robotic thyroid surgery in such a young child, reinforcing the country’s growing capabilities in advanced pediatric robotic surgery.
