Manipal, June 25, 2026: Kasturba Hospital, Manipal has successfully performed a complex robotic airway (intrathoracic) cancer surgery, marking a significant milestone in the field of advanced robotic cancer surgery in Karnataka. The intricate procedure was performed on a 36-year-old male patient who had been suffering from breathing difficulties.

An endoscopy had previously revealed a tumor in the lower part of the trachea (windpipe). Since the patient had undergone a partial tumor removal surgery at an outside hospital, a definitive procedure was required to completely excise the remaining tumor along with the lower part of the trachea.

The surgery was conducted under the leadership of Dr. Naveen Kumar A.N., Professor and Head of the Department of Surgical Oncology at Kasturba Hospital Manipal, with critical support from the Department of Anesthesia. Through robotic surgery, the lower part of the trachea damaged by the tumor located above the tracheal bifurcation was completely removed, and the airway was successfully reconstructed by joining the healthy ends of the trachea. The need to maintain lung oxygenation continuously and keep a ventilator tube inside the airway throughout the robotic surgery made this procedure especially challenging. In traditional open surgery, a large incision on the chest would be required. Thanks to the minimally invasive robotic surgery, the patient recovered quickly and was discharged on the fourth day after the operation.

The surgical team included Dr. Nawaz Usman, Dr. Akhil Palod, Dr. Ananth Balakrishnan, and Dr. Preethi from the Surgical Oncology department alongside Dr. Naveen Kumar. Dr. Anita N., Professor of Anesthesia, and Dr. Shreya were also part of the team. Under Dr. Naveen Kumar A.N., the Surgical Oncology department at Kasturba Hospital Manipal has been performing a wide range of major robotic cancer surgeries involving the lungs, thymus, esophagus, stomach, rectum, pancreas, liver, uterus, and kidneys.

Expressing happiness over the success of the complex surgery, Dr. Naveen Kumar A.N. said, “This surgery is one of the most technologically challenging procedures in robotic cancer surgery, requiring precise coordination between the surgical and anesthesia teams to maintain the patient’s ventilation and oxygenation.” Congratulating the team on this achievement, Dr. Sudhakar Kantipudi, COO of MAHE Teaching Hospitals, said that this achievement is a proud moment for Kasturba Hospital and they will continue to invest in advanced technology and expertise to make the hospital a premier center for complex robotic surgeries.

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