A team of doctors at Ruby Hall Clinic, have successfully performed a rare robotic surgery on a 35-day-old infant — one of the youngest patients in the world to undergo this kind of procedure. The baby, brought in from Mangalore, was diagnosed with a serious condition called pelvic-ureteric junction obstruction in both kidneys. This condition blocks the flow of urine from the kidneys to the bladder, causing pain, swelling, and the risk of permanent kidney damage.
The surgery was led by Dr. Himesh Gandhi, Director of Robotic Surgery and Chief Robotic Uro-oncosurgeon at Ruby Hall, who used the advanced da Vinci system to carry out the delicate procedure with improved precision.
“Operating on a baby this young is always a challenge. The organs are tiny, the tissue is delicate, and the room for error is extremely small,” explained Dr. Gandhi. “With the help of robotic arms and fine instruments usually used for kidney transplants, we were able to carefully remove the obstruction and reconnect the kidney to the bladder. The baby is now recovering well and has started passing urine comfortably.”
According to Dr. Gandhi, robotic-assisted surgery offers several advantages, especially in delicate cases like this. The precision of robotic arms allows for minimal incisions, which reduces trauma to the surrounding tissues and ensures quicker recovery. The 3D visualization and enhanced dexterity provided by the da Vinci system also give surgeons a clearer view and more control, even in confined spaces. This technology not only speeds up the surgical process but also lowers the risk of complications, making it a better choice for complex procedures, particularly in pediatric patients.
This operation marks yet another milestone in Pune’s growing reputation as a center for robotic-assisted surgery, particularly in complex pediatric and urological procedures. Dr. Gandhi was the first to introduce robotic-assisted surgery for urological cancers in Pune back in 2017, when Ruby Hall installed the city’s first advanced robotic surgery system. Since then, he has been involved in more than 540 robotic surgeries, performing operations on patients ranging from adults with prostate or kidney cancer to children with congenital abnormalities.
He added, “Over the last eight years, Pune has quietly built strong capabilities in robotic surgery. While cities like Mumbai and Delhi have multiple robotic centers, Pune now matches them in both expertise and outcomes. Patients are no longer traveling to metros for these procedures — they’re coming to Pune instead.”
In addition to treating patients, Dr. Gandhi also trains other surgeons in robotic techniques. Over the past five years, he has helped set up robotic programs in several Indian cities, including New Delhi, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad.
