Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta gave a second life to four patients
aged between 40 – 69 years who had been suffering from heart blockages via the newly launched
technology Robot-Assisted Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG). All the Four patients were
operated within a span of 3 weeks. A team of renowned cardiac surgeons led by Dr. Vivek Jawali,
Chairman, Cardiovascular Sciences & the Executive Council of the Fortis Hospitals, Bangalore, Dr. V
Murali Manohar, Senior Consultant – Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery, Fortis Hospital,
Bannerghatta Road and Dr. Sudarshan GT, Senior Consultant – Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery,
Fortis Hospital Bannerghatta Road, successfully performed the Robot-Assisted CABG surgeries.
Explaining the procedure, Dr. Vivek Jawali, Chairman, Cardiovascular Sciences & the Executive
Council of the Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru said, “Robotic Minimally Assisted CABG is the most
nonintrusive technique which involves making small incisions in the left chest cavity with the use of
Da Vinci Robotic system. The benefits of this procedure over the traditional surgery are less blood
loss, minimal pain and faster recovery. The risk involved when compared to conventional surgery is
less with minimal hospital stay. Robot-Assisted CABG comes as another feather in our cap in regards
to technological innovations and we at Fortis BG couldn’t be any prouder.”
Dr. V Murali Manohar, Senior Consultant – Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Fortis Hospital,
Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, explained, “The 69-year-old patient was a known case of diabetes
mellitus. He came to Fortis Bannerghatta with complaints of pain from exertion while walking. We
suggested he undergo a Coronary Angiogram, which revealed predominant single vessel coronary
artery disease (CAD). CAD is a condition in which the coronary arteries are blocked and have lesser
flow. To provide the heart with oxygenated blood, the coronary arteries should be normal, however,
the heart receives reduced blood when they are blocked. This could result in major heart problems
which might then cause issues with other body functions. The patient was advised for Robotic
Assisted Bypass procedure and admitted after checking preoperative fitness for surgery of the
patient. The patient was out of ICU within a day and was discharged on the third post-operative day
in a stable condition.”
Dr. Sudarshan GT, Senior Consultant, Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Fortis Hospital
Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru, “A 59-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus and
hypertension consulted with complaints of atypical chest pain*. After evaluation with Tread Mill Test,
it was revealed that the patient had ECG changes suggesting ischemia. The coronary angiogram
depicted critical left main with double vessel coronary artery disease. The patient was then advised

for an early CABG. Due to his comorbidities he was advised robotic procedure and he underwent
Robotic total arterial keyhole bypass with 2 Grafts. To access the heart during this procedure, 3 tiny
incisions were made between the ribs on the left side of the chest. The internal mammary artery was
harvested from the chest wall using the latest da Vinci Xi robot with no chest spreading and the
extracted artery was stitched to the blocked coronary arteries on a beating heart. The patient was
discharged pain free from the hospital on the 3rd day and we are glad to see him doing well and back
to routine work within a week.”