United Healthcare performs ‘Bangladesh’s first’ robotic surgery
Milestone reached at United Healthcare in Dhaka, where surgeons operated on two patients using Medbot Toumai Endoscopic Surgical Robot
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh has performed what is being described as its first robotic surgeries, introducing a technology that could allow doctors to carry out complex operations with greater precision while reducing recovery times for patients.
The milestone was reached at United Healthcare in Dhaka, where surgeons operated on two patients using the Medbot Toumai Endoscopic Surgical Robot, according to United News of Bangladesh.
Prof. Dr. Rafiques Salehin performed a robotic cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal, on a 57-year-old man suffering from gallstones, while Prof. Dr. Samsad Jahan Shelly performed a robotic hysterectomy on a 45-year-old woman experiencing abnormal uterine bleeding.
Both procedures were carried out using the Medbot Toumai Endoscopic Surgical Robot with support from a multidisciplinary medical team.
Robotic surgery does not mean a machine independently operates on a patient. Instead, a surgeon controls robotic arms and specialized instruments from a console, allowing movements to be translated into highly precise actions inside the patient’s body.
The system used in Bangladesh provides surgeons with high-definition, three-dimensional views of the operating area and instruments capable of moving through 360 degrees, making it easier to work in narrow or difficult-to-reach parts of the body.
United Healthcare said the technology can allow smaller incisions, reduce blood loss and tissue damage, cause less postoperative pain and shorten recovery times compared with some conventional surgical procedures.
Salehin said the robotic arms can move beyond the physical limitations of a surgeon’s hands, providing greater precision when operating in confined spaces and helping doctors avoid damaging surrounding blood vessels and tissue.
The hospital plans to expand its robotic surgery program beyond the initial gallbladder and gynecological procedures.
Jahan said the technology is expected to eventually be used in cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, urology, general surgery, gynecology and thoracic surgery.
The hospital also hopes that developing robotic surgery capacity inside Bangladesh will reduce the number of patients who travel abroad for advanced medical procedures.
Bangladesh has long seen thousands of patients travel overseas, particularly to neighboring countries, for specialized treatment. Expanding access to advanced procedures domestically could therefore not only broaden treatment options but also reduce healthcare-related spending outside the country.
Jahan said providing more advanced procedures locally could help Bangladesh retain foreign currency that would otherwise be spent on medical treatment abroad.
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