Robotic surgery on diabetic at JPMC

For the first time in Pakistan, Jinnah Hospital in Karachi has achieved a breakthrough by successfully conducting robotic surgery on patients suffering from diabetes and obesity.

Professor Shahid Rasool, leading the surgical team, asserts that following this procedure, patients may no longer require diabetes medication or insulin.

The groundbreaking surgery, aimed to treat obesity and metabolic conditions, was performed free of charge at the hospital.

During the procedure, the patient’s stomach was reduced in size to address diabetes, while modifications were made to the large intestine to expedite the digestive process. Professor Rasool, spearheading the operation, highlighted its significance. The patient was a 45-year-old woman suffering from diabetes, with 140 kgs of weight.

Professor Rasool explained that post-surgery, the patient is expected to experience weight loss, with an aim to eliminate diabetes. Subsequently, diabetic medications and insulin will no longer be required for the patient. The procedure has resulted in the complete remission of diabetes in 70 per cent of similar cases.

Jinnah Hospital has conducted a total of 135 robotic surgeries, including those in urology, gynaecology, and general surgeries, since its inception in September 2023. Specialised training sessions were held for gynaecological robotic surgeries, given their complexity, alongside workshops organised within the hospital.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2024.