First Paediatric Robotic Surgery for Complex Liver Tumour Performed at K S Hegde Hospital

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Feb 6, 2026: Doctors at Justice K.S. Hegde Hospital have successfully performed the first paediatric robotic-assisted surgery for a complex liver tumour in coastal Karnataka on a 14-year-old girl.

The patient was referred to the Department of Paediatric Surgery with complaints of abdominal pain. A multidisciplinary team comprising paediatric surgeons, paediatricians and surgical gastroenterologists evaluated her condition and diagnosed a large tumour arising from the caudate lobe of the liver. Doctors said such large liver tumours carry a high risk of rupture and uncontrollable bleeding if not treated in time.

Given the tumour’s proximity to major blood vessels, including the vena cava, conventional open surgery posed a high risk of excessive bleeding and complications. After detailed evaluation, the paediatric surgery team, in coordination with surgical gastroenterologists, decided to perform a robotic-assisted liver resection.

The highly challenging procedure lasted nearly 11 hours and was carried out under the guidance of Dr. Kalayarasan Raja, a renowned surgical gastroenterologist from JIPMER, Puducherry, who served as the proctor. The anaesthesia team played a crucial role in managing potential complications such as sudden drops in blood pressure and significant blood loss.

The patient had an uneventful post-operative recovery and was closely monitored by paediatricians and the paediatric intensive care unit staff. She made a complete recovery and was discharged on the fifth day after surgery, doctors said.

Hospital sources stated that this is the first paediatric robotic-assisted surgery for such a complex liver tumour to be performed in coastal Karnataka. Over the past year, more than 170 complex robotic-assisted surgeries have been successfully carried out at K.S. Hegde Medical Academy. Robotic surgery enables greater precision in major liver, pancreatic, gastrointestinal, urological, gynaecological and cancer surgeries, resulting in reduced pain and faster recovery compared to conventional surgical methods.

The patient, who hails from a low socio-economic background, was able to undergo the advanced procedure with the support and encouragement of the institution and the Nitte management, hospital authorities added.