Doctors in Bengaluru have achieved a major medical milestone by successfully performing a rare and highly complex robotic double valve replacement using the latest-generation Da Vinci Xi Surgical System on an elderly woman giving her a new lease of life.
The procedure was led by Dr Sathyaki Nambala, renowned cardiac surgeon and chief of Robotic Cardiac Surgery at Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru. This landmark surgery marks a significant advancement in bringing complex multi-valve replacement into the domain of minimally invasive, robotic-assisted cardiac care in India.
Although robotic double valve replacement was reported in India over a decade ago, those early attempts were limited to first-generation robotic systems.
The patient, a 53-year-old elderly woman, presented with severe destruction of both the aortic and mitral valves due to infective endocarditis. She also suffered from multiple comorbidities, including rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, thyroid dysfunction, and a prior stroke, making her a high-risk candidate for conventional open-heart surgery.
Given the complexity, the surgical team opted for a minimally invasive robotic approach using the Da Vinci Xi Surgical System. A simultaneous aortic and mitral valve replacement with bioprosthetic valves was successfully performed under transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) guidance. The entire surgery was completed through small keyhole incisions, without the need for a midline sternotomy.
The patient was extubated and mobilised within 12 hours, transferred to the ward shortly thereafter, and discharged on the third postoperative day. At her one-week follow-up, she remained asymptomatic and in good health, highlighting the safety, precision, and patient-centric advantages of robotic cardiac surgery even in high-risk cases.
Dr Nambala, National Director, Robotic Cardiac Surgery, Apollo Hospitals said, “This achievement represents a major milestone not only for the hospital, but for the cardiac surgery community in Asia. While robotic double valve replacement has been attempted in the past, performing it today with next-generation robotic platforms introduces an entirely new level of precision, control, and safety. This evolution has allowed us to reinvent what is possible in complex multi-valve surgery through a truly minimally invasive approach.”
Dr. Girish B. Navasundi, Director Cath Lab & Senior Consultant – Cardiology, at the hospital, added, “The success of this procedure highlights how advanced robotic technology is redefining the landscape of cardiac surgery. It demonstrates the immense potential of minimally invasive, robotic-assisted interventions in managing complex valvular heart disease safely and effectively—ensuring reduced surgical trauma, minimal blood loss, and faster recovery for patients.”
Akshay Oleti, CEO of the hospital in Karnataka, stated, “Dr Sathyaki and his team reached this milestone through their unmatched experience of over 3,000 minimally invasive cardiac procedures and more than 600 robotic cardiac surgeries.”