"World's first" remote-controlled coronary intervention performed in Ahmedabad

A city-based cardiologist Wednesday performed what he claimed to be the "world's first" telerobotic coronary intervention by remotely operating robotically controlled instruments from a distance of 32 kms.

Sitting at Akshardham temple complex in Gandhinagar, Dr Tejas Patel performed the surgery on a middle-aged woman, who was in the operation theatre of Apex Heart Institute in Ahmedabad. For the operation which lasted for a few minutes, Dr Patel used telerobotics technology.

The robotic system was placed in the operation theatre and he was connected to it through high-speed wireless internet. Moving the buttons from the temple, the patient's arteries were cleaned up and a stent was inserted.

"India has achieved an important breakthrough in the history of medical science. This is the world's first percutaneous coronary intervention conducted from a remote location outside of the catheterization lab," Dr Patel claimed. The operation was shown on a screen at the Akshardham temple, where Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was also present.

On the occasion, Rupani said it was a matter of pride for Gujarat that such a breakthrough was achieved in the state.