Dr.B S Ratta
MBBS, MS, DIP. Paediatric Surgery, FICS. Certified Robotic Surgeon
Dr. B. S. Ratta, an accomplished pediatric surgeon based out of Pune, finished his post-graduation at Mumbai University. Throughout his long career, Dr. Ratta has worked in the Middle East and Africa and received training in pediatric surgery at the Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London, as well as KEM Hospital in Bombay. Working with Professor Richard Spicer from Leeds, UK, Dr. Ratta played a key role in founding the Sultanate of Oman’s Department of Pediatric Surgery while employed in Muscat. They were also the first to introduce the hub-and-spoke approach for hospitalized neonates in need of surgery.
Dr. Ratta received training at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital from some of the top surgeons in the world, such as Mr. Philip Ransley, a renowned pediatric urologist, and Professor Lewis Spitz, who is famous for having separated over 20 sets of conjoined twins. Dr. Ratta refined his expertise in the management of paediatric kidney transplants, bladder exstrophy, penile reconstruction, hypospadias, and prenatal interventions under their tutelage. After coming back to India in 1990, he joined Ruby Hall Clinic (Pune), where he established the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU),Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and Paediatric Surgery Dept. He currently helps to pioneer laparoscopic procedures and develop robotic surgery for children.
“Pediatric surgery is distinct in that it deals with many bodily systems in children. Having spent three years studying general surgery, neurosurgery, and cardiac surgery, I was looking for a career that would allow me to
apply my training. My mentors, Dr. R.K. Gandhi and Mrs. Snehalata Deshmukh, who were pioneers in pediatric surgery in Bombay, pushed me to pursue a career in pediatric surgery. Collaborating with them inspired me to seek more training in England,” informs Dr. Ratta.
Achieving Break throughs via Technology
Antenatal diagnosis remained uncommon in India until the late 1990s. However, ever since ultrasonography became a standard procedure for antenatal follow-ups, many illnesses have been discovered early. Dr. Ratta is an expert in pediatric urology, with a focus on bilateral bladder exstrophy and hydronephrosis identified in utero. His expertise lies in treating pediatric urological conditions with laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. These procedures cover conditions including congenital obstructive posterior urethral membranes, obstructive uropathy , tumors ,anorectal abnormalities, and incontinence that is present from birth. Dr. Ratta also treats vesico-ureteral reflux, a disorder that was previously believed to be uncommon in India.
“Many conditions in pediatric surgery do not require surgical inter-vention. For instance, small hemangiomas present at birth typically progress during the first year of life and then gradually fade by the age of four or five years. Surgery is only necessary if these hemangiomas involve major organs, such as those near the eye, lip, or genital area. Similarly, fluid in the scrotum, known colloquially as hydrocele, often resolves on its own. Patent processus vaginalis, a condition present at birth, usually corrects itself by six months of age. Antenatal hydro-nephrosis in one kidney has about a 30 percent chance of normalizing without surgery. Another example is an umbilical hernia, which generally closes on its own by the age of two, if not, surgery can be performed,” conveys Dr. Ratta.
When surgery is necessary, Dr. Ratta ensures parents are fully informed about their options, ranging from open surgery to minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopy and robotic surgery. Certain procedures may also involve using lasers through an endoscope for ablation of tumors or valves.
“We achieved a big advancement in minimally invasive surgery when we carried out our first laparoscopic nephrectomy in 1998 on a nine-month-old infant with a non-functioning kidney. Ever since then, we have tried to provide laparoscopic surgery for several treatments. We can now do robotic surgery on children at Ruby Hall Clinic, which offers improved cosmetic outcomes, shortened hospital stays, and faster recovery times. We are getting close to starting a fetal surgery program in India due to the rising incidence of prenatal diagnosis,” adds Dr. Ratta.
Lifelong Learning & Global Collaboration
Dr. Ratta often participates in online meetings with a network of pediatric surgeons to stay in touch with pediatric surgical centers in the US and the UK. He uses podcasts and electronic journals to stay up to date on news throughout his daily commute and work breaks. Dr. Ratta visits other countries a few times a year to attend conferences and learn about cutting-edge pediatric surgery programs. His attendance in classes in France, Germany, the US, Australia, and Hong Kong has given him invaluable exposure to a variety of methods and strategies.
“I have given talks at more than 100 conferences in India and other countries, and have numerous publications in international journals. I believe it is crucial to keep up to date by attending a lot of seminars, workshops, and conferences. Attending simulation meetings aids in mastering techniques and keeps us informed about developments in pediatric surgery worldwide,” concludes Dr. Ratta.
Achieving Break throughs via Technology
Antenatal diagnosis remained uncommon in India until the late 1990s. However, ever since ultrasonography became a standard procedure for antenatal follow-ups, many illnesses have been discovered early. Dr. Ratta is an expert in pediatric urology, with a focus on bilateral bladder exstrophy and hydronephrosis identified in utero. His expertise lies in treating pediatric urological conditions with laparoscopic and robotic surgeries. These procedures cover conditions including congenital obstructive posterior urethral membranes, obstructive uropathy , tumors ,anorectal abnormalities, and incontinence that is present from birth. Dr. Ratta also treats vesico-ureteral reflux, a disorder that was previously believed to be uncommon in India.
The only thing that guarantees the finest treatment possible is a commitment to lifelong learning
“Many conditions in pediatric surgery do not require surgical inter-vention. For instance, small hemangiomas present at birth typically progress during the first year of life and then gradually fade by the age of four or five years. Surgery is only necessary if these hemangiomas involve major organs, such as those near the eye, lip, or genital area. Similarly, fluid in the scrotum, known colloquially as hydrocele, often resolves on its own. Patent processus vaginalis, a condition present at birth, usually corrects itself by six months of age. Antenatal hydro-nephrosis in one kidney has about a 30 percent chance of normalizing without surgery. Another example is an umbilical hernia, which generally closes on its own by the age of two, if not, surgery can be performed,” conveys Dr. Ratta.
When surgery is necessary, Dr. Ratta ensures parents are fully informed about their options, ranging from open surgery to minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopy and robotic surgery. Certain procedures may also involve using lasers through an endoscope for ablation of tumors or valves.
“We achieved a big advancement in minimally invasive surgery when we carried out our first laparoscopic nephrectomy in 1998 on a nine-month-old infant with a non-functioning kidney. Ever since then, we have tried to provide laparoscopic surgery for several treatments. We can now do robotic surgery on children at Ruby Hall Clinic, which offers improved cosmetic outcomes, shortened hospital stays, and faster recovery times. We are getting close to starting a fetal surgery program in India due to the rising incidence of prenatal diagnosis,” adds Dr. Ratta.
Lifelong Learning & Global Collaboration
Dr. Ratta often participates in online meetings with a network of pediatric surgeons to stay in touch with pediatric surgical centers in the US and the UK. He uses podcasts and electronic journals to stay up to date on news throughout his daily commute and work breaks. Dr. Ratta visits other countries a few times a year to attend conferences and learn about cutting-edge pediatric surgery programs. His attendance in classes in France, Germany, the US, Australia, and Hong Kong has given him invaluable exposure to a variety of methods and strategies.
“I have given talks at more than 100 conferences in India and other countries, and have numerous publications in international journals. I believe it is crucial to keep up to date by attending a lot of seminars, workshops, and conferences. Attending simulation meetings aids in mastering techniques and keeps us informed about developments in pediatric surgery worldwide,” concludes Dr. Ratta.
