Diagnosis of cervical cancer usually requires a hysterectomy, but Dr Kulkarni, based in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, performed first-of-its-kind fertility preservation surgery, Radical Trachelectomy (RT), in which a cancerous tumour was removed by robotic instruments. The surgery is the first time that such an operation has been carried out on a woman with cancer. Only 800-900 RTs have been performed throughout the world, and this was the first to use robotic instruments, he added.
Diagnosis of cervical cancer usually requires a hysterectomy, but Dr Kulkarni, based in Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai, performed first-of-its-kind fertility preservation surgery, Radical Trachelectomy (RT), in which a cancerous tumour was removed by robotic instruments. Though it is a complex procedure, he said that the flexibility of the instruments means that deep-seated tumour mass can be removed easily, making it accurate and safe. Only 800-900 RTs have been performed throughout the world, and this was the first to use robotic instruments, he added.