Narayana Hospital in Howrah successfully performed Eastern India’s first Robotic Cytoreductive Surgery (CRS) combined with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC).

​The patient was a 42-year-old mother with no prior health conditions who presented with severe abdominal swelling.

​Examinations revealed a large accumulation of fluid, tumors in both ovaries, and extensive internal spread, confirming Stage IIIC advanced ovarian cancer.

​Guided by a multidisciplinary tumour board, the patient received three cycles of chemotherapy alongside a targeted biological drug before any surgical intervention.

​Her CA125 cancer antigen level plummeted from a staggering 1,158 down to 10.3, while diagnostic scans clearly verified significant tumor shrinkage and a reduction in abdominal fluid.

​With her residual disease successfully minimized and tumor mass reduced to under 8 cm, the tumour board recommended Robotic CRS instead of traditional open surgery.

​The robotic approach utilized small keyhole incisions rather than a large abdominal cut, drastically curtailing blood loss, lowering infection risks, and paving the way for swift rehabilitation.

Lasting nearly five hours, the meticulous robotic operation achieved complete cytoreduction with zero visible cancer remaining.

​Immediately following the surgery, the medical team administered HIPEC, circulating heated cisplatin chemotherapy at 42°C through the abdominal cavity for 90 minutes to eliminate any remaining microscopic cancer cells.

​Defying conventional recovery timelines for major open surgeries, the patient was discharged in just three days, gracefully returning to her normal daily life and career.

​Having completed follow-up chemotherapy, she is currently managed on a structured maintenance regimen using a PARP inhibitor to actively prevent recurrence.

Dr. Kaustav Basu, Clinical Lead and Senior Consultant in Gynaecologic Oncology, highlighted that pairing robotic CRS with HIPEC represents a magnificent leap forward, offering carefully selected patients exceptional cancer clearance without compromising outcomes.

​Facility leadership noted that meticulous patient selection and rigorous clinical protocols prove that advanced ovarian cancer can be safely treated with modern, less invasive modalities, ultimately broadening specialized oncology care horizons across Eastern India.

Priyanka Dutta