Milestone: PGI endo surgery dept crosses 200 robotic procedures

Lucknow: SGPGI’s department of endocrine surgery announced completion of 200 robotic endocrine procedures on Thursday.Prof Gyan Chand, whose team recently handled a complex case that highlighted the advancement, said that the procedure involved a 25-year-old patient from Hardoi with a long-standing thyroid swelling and hypothyroidism.Investigations revealed a large multinodular goitre with retrosternal extension — a condition traditionally considered challenging for robotic surgery.Despite the complexity, the team successfully performed a robotic total thyroidectomy (total removal of thyroid gland) to ensure preservation of critical structures such as recurrent laryngeal nerves and parathyroid glands.The patient recovered without complications, retaining normal voice and stable calcium levels.The excised thyroid gland was significantly enlarged, weighing 149 grammes, with part of it extending into the chest cavity, adding to the surgical challenge.Doctors said such cases are typically managed through open surgery, but the use of robotic technique helped avoid a large neck incision.Institute director Prof RK Dhiman congratulated the team on the achievement, calling it a major step in advancing minimally invasive endocrine surgery.Prof Chand said the milestone was possible due to sustained institutional support and growing expertise within the department.Experts said the achievement reflects the department’s growing capability in handling complex endocrine cases through robotic techniques, which offer greater precision, minimal scarring and faster recovery.“The milestone also highlights the increasing role of robotic surgery as a viable alternative to conventional open procedures,” Prof Chand said.