Pune, August 27, 2026: Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, Chinchwad, Pune, today highlighted a significant milestone in advanced cancer care, announcing the successful completion of Pune’s first fully da Vinci robotic Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) combined with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for a 51-year-old woman with advanced ovarian cancer.
The case was led by Dr. Nikhil Parwate, Gynae Oncology & Robotic Surgeon, along with other members such as Dr. Prashant Chandra, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, and Dr. Nikhil Jillawar, Consultant GI Surgeon; supported by Dr. Tanaji Mhetre, Sr. Consultant, Anesthesiology; Dr. Urvi Shukla, Director, Intensive Care Unit; Dr. Girish Kumthekar, HOD, Nephrology; and Dr. Viplav Vaidya, Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, Pune, along with the hospital’s dedicated robotic surgery nursing and technical team.
The case was highlighted during a press conference, where the team shared details of the complex procedure and the roles of advanced robotic technology and multidisciplinary expertise in its successful completion. The hospital claims that the procedure is among approximately seven such cases in India to have been completed entirely using a surgical da Vinci robot, without conversion to open surgery at any stage.
CRS + HIPEC is a highly complex treatment approach used in selected cases of advanced cancer that has spread throughout the abdominal cavity. It involves removing all visible tumour from the abdomen, followed by circulating heated chemotherapy within the abdominal cavity to target microscopic disease that may remain.
The patient came to ABMH with advanced ovarian cancer, which had spread to the abdomen, pelvis and pleural cavity. Under the care of medical oncologist Dr. Wategaonkar, she underwent three cycles of chemotherapy. Following the treatment, her condition improved significantly, making her suitable for definitive surgery.
The case was subsequently evaluated and cleared by the hospital’s tumour board and a multidisciplinary team comprising specialists from critical care, anaesthesia, nephrology and infectious diseases.
Addressing the press conference, Dr. Nikhil Parwate, Gynae Oncology & Robotic Surgeon, Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, said, “This case represents an important milestone in our efforts to push the boundaries of advanced cancer surgery in Pune. Completing such a complex CRS + HIPEC procedure entirely with robotic assistance required careful patient selection, meticulous planning, and close coordination across multiple specialties. For us, the achievement is not only about performing the surgery robotically, but about bringing together the technology, expertise, and multidisciplinary care required to manage a complex cancer case.”
The procedure lasted approximately twelve hours, during which the surgical team used robotic assistance to access different areas of the abdomen and remove the visible tumour. This was followed by HIPEC, wherein heated cisplatin was circulated through the abdomen at 42°C for 90 minutes. A key aspect of the procedure was that the surgery was completed without conversion to open surgery.
Dr. Prashant Chandra, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital, said, “The complexity of this case lay not only in the extent of the disease, but also in the need to achieve comprehensive tumour removal while maintaining a minimally invasive approach. The successful completion of the procedure without conversion to open surgery reflects the importance of advanced da Vinci robotic capabilities supported by a highly coordinated clinical team. Cases such as this demonstrate how technology, when combined with clinical expertise and careful planning, can expand the possibilities of complex cancer care.”
The successful completion of the procedure marks a significant milestone for Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital’s da Vinci robotic surgery and advanced oncology programme, reinforcing its focus on bringing complex and specialised cancer treatment capabilities to patients in Pune and surrounding regions.