KOCHI: The two-day Robotic Surgery Workshop and Master Class in gynaecologic oncology, organised by the Gynaecologic Oncology Department of the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), concluded here on Sunday.
Dr Mario M Leitao, director of the Minimal Access and Robotic Surgery (MARS) Programme at Memorial Sloan - Kettering Cancer Centre, US, was one of the faculties of the workshop. In addition, eminent national faculties from Kashmir, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bhubaneshwar, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram also participated in the workshop.
Medical director Dr Prem Nair; Association of Gynaecologic Oncologists of India president Dr Neerja Bhatla; AIIMS, New Delhi, Obstetrics and Gynaecology president Dr D K Vijayakumar; Gynaecologic Oncology HoD Dr Anupama Rajanbabu and Department of Gynaecologic Oncology associate professor Dr Sarala Sreedhar spoke.
The workshop discussed the growing importance of gynaecologic oncology in India, which deals with the study and management of cancers of the female reproductive system. The estimate by the Indian Council of Medical Research is that by 2020, the number of women suffering from such cancers would be: cervix uteri - 1,23,291, body uterus - 17.633 and ovary -36,199.
The technology to provide appropriate treatment is available at various centres in India, and robotic surgery is one such technology. It is basically a computer assisted procedure, wherein the surgeon uses robotic arms to perform the surgery, with high precision and minimal blood loss. There is hardly any post-operation discomfort with the majority of them discharged within one day after the surgery.