CHENNAI: In line with its motto of ‘serving poor patients with cutting edge technology,’ the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital (TNGMSSH) set a new benchmark in cancer care by carrying out the first robotically-assisted Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA) on a female patient with a liver tumour, here on Tuesday.
The procedure — carried out through the most advanced equipment and technology, available only in corporate hospitals at a hefty price tag - was availed by a poor patient free of cost. “The treatment would cost around `2-2.5 lakh in a corporate hospital,” said Dr A L Periakaruppan, interventional radiologist, TNGMSSH. While procedures using robotic system are widely practised for liver, kidney and bone in the US and UK for cancer care, TNGMSSH is one of the few institutions — probably the first in government sector - pioneering in south India.
For instance, 59-year-old Rita, was suffering from liver cancer, was found unsuitable for surgery and a team comprising Dr Periakaruppan, Dr V Anand Kumar, Dr Ramesh and Dr Sundareswaran at TNGMSSH decided to perform robotically-assisted RFA on her.
The system helps in planning full treatment with the help of advanced software tools with the support of robotic navigation. “The procedure is minimally invasive with no side effects and requires not more than a day’s hospitalisation,” Dr Perikaruppan said.