Bengaluru: In a landmark achievement for advanced surgical care, Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru has set a new global benchmark by successfully carrying out the world’s first-ever combination of robot-assisted minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery (MIDCAB) and robotic radical prostatectomy during a single operation. The complex, multi-specialty procedure was performed on a 56-year-old US-based Non-Resident Indian (NRI) who was simultaneously battling coronary artery disease and prostate cancer—two life-threatening conditions that typically require separate, high-risk surgeries.
The highly coordinated surgical effort was led by a multidisciplinary team including Dr. Sudarshan G T, Director – MICS & Robotic Cardiac Surgery, and Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy, Principal Director – Renal Sciences, showcasing a rare integration of cardiac and oncological robotic expertise.
The patient was diagnosed with a critical narrowing in a major coronary artery that significantly restricted blood supply to the heart, though his heart’s pumping function remained intact. At the same time, he was found to have prostate cancer, which had begun causing distressing urinary symptoms such as difficulty initiating urination, reduced urine flow, frequent urges, and incomplete bladder emptying. Delaying treatment for either condition posed serious risks—ranging from heart attack or heart failure to cancer progression.
Ordinarily, addressing these conditions would involve two separate surgeries, multiple hospital admissions, and repeated exposure to anaesthesia, increasing overall risk and recovery time. After extensive evaluation and joint planning, the Fortis medical team opted for a single-stage, robot-assisted approach to treat both conditions safely and efficiently in one operative session.
Explaining the cardiac component of the surgery, Dr. Sudarshan G T said, “Performing heart bypass surgery in a patient who also has prostate cancer requires meticulous planning and precision. We carried out a robot-assisted minimally invasive coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB), using the patient’s chest artery (LIMA) to restore blood flow to the heart through small keyhole incisions without opening the chest. This approach allowed us to safely restore blood flow to the heart with less trauma, smaller incisions and faster recovery. The procedure lasted 1.5 hours. Although combining two major surgeries under a single anaesthesia is rare, in this case it significantly helped avoid multiple major surgeries and hospital admissions, repeated exposure to anaesthesia, prolonged recovery and high risk.”
Following the successful completion of the heart bypass, the surgical team immediately proceeded with the cancer operation. Detailing the urological procedure, Dr. Mohan Keshavamurthy added, “We carried out a 3.5-hour long robot-assisted radical prostatectomy which involved removal of the prostate and the nearby glands where cancer can spread, with temporary stents placed to protect the urine passage. This approach offers excellent cancer control with high precision, minimal blood loss and faster recovery. Performing it in a single sitting along with cardiac surgery is highly complex, but it spares the patient the physical and emotional burden of two separate major operations. In this case, it allowed us to treat the prostate cancer immediately after heart surgery, preventing disease progression, while keeping cardiac risk under control. The patient was discharged within 5 days, in a stable condition with a structured follow-up plan. This case truly demonstrates what integrated multicompartment robotic surgery can achieve.”
The patient, who initially received his diagnosis in the United States, chose to travel to India after learning about Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road’s unique capability to deliver such an integrated surgical solution. Sharing his experience, he said, “After an initially diagnosis in the United States I decided to travel to India upon learning that Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road was among the few centres in the world capable of offering an integrated, single-stage surgical solution using advanced robotic and minimally invasive techniques. Being diagnosed with both heart disease and prostate cancer at the same time was overwhelming. I had not imagined that both the surgeries could happen at the same time and was mentally prepared for pro-longed suffering. Thanks to the Fortis doctors, who gave me confidence that both the ailments could be treated safely and together. I am grateful for the care, planning, and support that helped me recover smoothly.”
Highlighting the broader significance of the achievement, Dr. Ananth Rao, VP & Business Head, Fortis Hospitals Bengaluru, said, “This world-first case underscores Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road’s leadership in delivering multidisciplinary, minimally invasive care for high-complexity patients. Successfully performing two major robotic surgeries in a single sitting reflects not only clinical excellence, but also our strong culture of collaboration, patient safety, and evidence-based decision-making. Such outcomes reinforce our commitment to offering integrated, advanced treatment solutions for patients from India and across the world.”