Narayana RN Tagore Hospital, Mukundapur, has emerged as a pioneer in robotic kidney transplant surgery in West Bengal, becoming the first hospital in the state to successfully perform 14 robotic kidney transplants over the past two years.
What sets these 14 surgeries apart is their clinical necessity — in all cases, traditional open transplant surgery was deemed unviable due to the patients’ obesity. Typically, patients with a high BMI are advised to lose weight or undergo bariatric surgery before being eligible for a transplant. However, the advent of robotic technology at Narayana RN Tagore Hospital has opened a new treatment pathway, eliminating the need for weight loss or additional surgery in select high-risk patients.
“Robotic kidney transplantation has revolutionised how we treat high-risk kidney failure patients,” said Dr. Forqan Babu Shaikh, Consultant – General Surgery, Narayana RN Tagore Hospital, Mukundapur. “For decades, renal transplants were done through open surgery. The introduction of robotic systems has transformed the process, making it safer, more precise, and better suited to handle complex cases like obesity. The robotic technique uses 8mm keyhole incisions and provides a 3D, high-magnification view, helping surgeons operate on delicate blood vessels with unparalleled accuracy. This reduces pain, speeds up recovery, and prevents post-operative complications, especially in obese patients where traditional surgery poses additional risks.”
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Tarshid Ali Jahangir, Consultant – General Surgery, Narayana RN Tagore Hospital, Mukundapur, added, “Robotic kidney transplants were previously avoided because they took significantly more time, which increased risks during surgery. However, with advanced robotic equipment and a highly skilled surgical team, we’ve been able to cut down operative time and improve patient safety dramatically.”
All 14 surgeries were conducted using live donors, with recipients aged between 35 and 55 years. These were highly selective cases where no other surgical options were available, reaffirming that robotic kidney transplant is a clinically driven, not cosmetically driven, choice at this stage. Narayana RN Tagore Hospital typically conducts around 500 open kidney transplants annually, with robotic procedures reserved for the most complex, high-risk patients.
The rise in such cases correlates with an alarming surge in lifestyle disorders. India is witnessing a growing burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD), fuelled by a steady rise in diabetes and obesity across age groups. For many of these patients, robotic kidney transplantation is fast becoming the only safe solution. While still an expensive procedure, experts believe that as robotic surgeries become more accessible, they may eventually be recommended more widely, even from a cosmetic standpoint, due to minimal scarring and faster recovery times.
Mr. R. Venkatesh, Group COO, Narayana Health, added, “Narayana Health has always been at the forefront of clinical excellence and innovation. The successful adoption of robotic kidney transplantation at our Kolkata unit is a testament to our commitment to advanced, patient-centric healthcare delivery.”
Mr. Abhijit CP, Director of Narayana RN Tagore Hospital and Corporate Growth Initiatives at Narayana Health (East), said, “This milestone reflects our continued focus on bringing cutting-edge technology to patients who need it the most. Our goal is to bridge the gap between complex medical needs and advanced surgical capabilities, ensuring that even high-risk patients receive the care they deserve.”
