His feet are on the pedals, his hands are on the controls, his head is inside a console, and he is peering into a three-dimensional camera. This what a skilled surgeon in the operating room of the Manipal Hospital looks like while performing a robotic surgery. High tech, yes. Frayed nerves, no. Nandkishor Dhomne, VP-IT and CIO, Manipal Health Enterprises, is one of the very few in India who has got first-hand experience in understanding and implementing robotics. “Surgeons become exhausted and can experience hand tremors during long surgeries. The robot takes over the complexities of the surgery, reducing physical exertion and stress levels of the doctor,” he says.
The hospital has conducted surgeon-controlled robotic surgeries since 2011 and the results have been exceptional.
“The surgeon uses a computer console to manipulate the instruments attached to multiple robot arms. The computer deciphers the surgeon’s movements, which are carried out on the patient by the robot. These machines follow the movements of the surgeon with precision, without any scope for trembling or shaking,” Dhomne says.
