The New Age of GI Surgery with Robotic Precision
Dr. Anandakumar is a renowned surgical gastroenterologist and liver transplant specialist with over 30 years of experience in GI, hepatobiliary, and laparoscopic surgery. He is the Founder & Chairman of Ananya Hospitals, known for delivering advanced surgical care across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. An alumnus of Bangalore Medical College, he holds an FRCSEd from the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, a Diploma in Laparoscopic Surgery from IRCAD, France, and an MD in Liver Transplant from Seoul National University, South Korea. He also trained in bariatric surgery in the U.S. in 2013.Dr. Anandakumar has led key roles at NIMS Hyderabad and Yashoda Hospitals, performing high-end liver, pancreatic, and biliary surgeries with a focus on clinical precision and innovation.
In 2025, surgical gastroenterology is being redefined by a powerful confluence of robotics, AI, and precision medicine. Once confined by anatomical complexity and surgical limitations, gastrointestinal procedures are now entering a bold new chapter one where machines don’t replace the surgeon, but enhance vision, control, and confidence. From liver resections to gastric cancer surgeries, robotic systems are transforming outcomes, reducing invasiveness, and personalizing interventions like never before. This isn’t just technological evolution, it’s a new surgical philosophy driven by data, dexterity, and deep human insight.
In a recent interaction with Snigdha Das, Correspondent at siliconindia, Dr. Anandakumar shared his insights on ‘The New Age of GI Surgery with Robotic Precision’.
How is robotic technology redefining surgical precision in gastroenterology, particularly in procedures involving confined or anatomically complex regions?
Robotic-assisted surgery is transforming the landscape of gastrointestinal (GI) procedures, especially those involving anatomically complex or confined regions like the deep pelvis, retroperitoneum, or hepatobiliary junctions. The robotic system provides enhanced three-dimensional visualization, wristed instruments with superior dexterity, and tremor filtration. This allows for meticulous dissection and suturing even in hard-to-access areas, thereby reducing collateral damage to surrounding tissues and improving surgical accuracy in procedures such as low anterior resection, esophagectomy, and hepatic resections.
How does the minimally invasive nature of robotic GI surgery contribute to enhanced patient outcomes, such as reduced post-operative pain and faster recovery times?
Robotic GI surgery, by virtue of being minimally invasive, offers several patient-centric benefits:
• Reduced incision size, leading to less postoperative pain and lower risk of wound complications.
• Minimized blood loss due to precise dissection.
• Faster mobilization and discharge, which improves bed turnover and lowers healthcare costs.
• Enhanced return to daily activities, improving patient satisfaction and quality of life.
This minimally invasive approach is especially beneficial for elderly patients and those with comorbidities, where faster recovery and reduced surgical stress are critical.
What are the key challenges financial, technical, and educational that limit the widespread adoption of robotic systems in gastrointestinal surgery, and how can they be addressed?
Despite its benefits, several challenges limit robotic adoption:
• Financial: High acquisition and maintenance costs of robotic platforms remain a barrier, particularly in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Government incentives, public-private partnerships, and shared-resource models can reduce this burden.
• Technical: Robotic platforms require advanced infrastructure, including hybrid ORs and reliable power backup. Investment in hospital infrastructure and digital integration is crucial.
• Educational: There’s a steep learning curve. Surgeons must undergo specialized training, which is currently limited to a few centers in India. Expanding certified training programs, simulation labs, and mentorship networks is vital for democratizing access.
How are specific GI procedures, like robotic colectomy and gastric cancer surgeries, benefitting from robotic assistance compared to conventional laparoscopic approaches?
Robotic assistance enhances outcomes in key GI surgeries:
• Robotic Colectomy: Offers improved nerve preservation, superior lymph node retrieval, and precise anastomosis in narrow pelvic spaces especially beneficial in obese patients or those with bulky tumors.
• Robotic Gastric Cancer Surgery: Facilitates D2 lymphadenectomy with greater precision, reduced intraoperative bleeding, and better visualization of vascular anatomy, which is critical in oncologic resections.
Compared to conventional laparoscopy, robotic platforms enable better ergonomics, more intuitive movements, and a stable camera view, reducing fatigue and improving outcomes.
What role does surgeon training and certification play in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of robotic GI procedures, and how is training evolving with the technology?
Surgeon competency is the cornerstone of safe robotic surgery. Structured credentialing, including:
• Didactic learning,
• Simulator-based skill development,
• Proctored live surgeries,
• Continuous professional development,ensures high safety standards.
Training programs are evolving with modular learning, AI-based skill assessment, and virtual reality simulators that mimic real-time anatomy and responses. Institutions like Ananya Hospitals are spearheading mentorship-driven robotic surgery fellowships to build a future-ready surgical workforce.
As robotic surgery advances, how might future integrations such as AI, machine learning, or augmented reality further enhance precision, personalization, and predictive outcomes in GI care?
The future of robotic GI surgery lies in intelligent integration:
• AI & ML will enable real-time decision support, predictive analytics for complication risks, and personalized
surgical plans based on patient data.
• Augmented Reality (AR) can overlay anatomical maps or tumor margins onto the surgical field, enhancing
intraoperative precision.
• Data-driven Robotics will allow performance benchmarking, error prediction, and automated safety checks.
Together, these technologies promise to shift GI surgery from reactive intervention to proactive, precision-driven
care.
Conclusion:
Robotic surgery in gastroenterology is not merely a technological upgrade,it represents a paradigm shift in surgical philosophy. With sustained investment, equitable training, and technology integration, India can lead the charge in making advanced GI care accessible, affordable, and outcomes-driven.
