Chandigarh31.10.26- : In a significant surgical achievement, the Department of Urology, Unit-II, PGIMER, Chandigarh, led by its Professor and Head, Prof. (Dr.) Santosh Kumar, performed three complex radical cystectomies within eight hours, between 8 am and 4 pm, in a single operation theatre on the same day. All three procedures involved pelvic lymph node dissection and urinary diversion, making the achievement particularly noteworthy in the field of urological oncology.

According to Prof. Santosh Kumar, none of the three patients required blood transfusion during surgery, and all were discharged from the hospital in good condition. The outcomes underline the importance of meticulous surgical techniques, effective blood loss control through the specialised ‘Santosh PGI Technique’, careful pre- and post-operative management and coordinated teamwork.

Prof. Kumar has described the achievement as a potential global first and world record. However, independent verification of such a distinction is awaited, as no publicly available records have established whether similar procedures have been performed elsewhere.

Radical cystectomy is among the most challenging procedures in urological oncology, generally performed for muscle-invasive or selected high-risk bladder cancers. The surgery involves removal of the urinary bladder, dissection of pelvic lymph nodes to assess the spread of cancer, and reconstruction of a new urinary passage, commonly through an ileal conduit or, in selected cases, an orthotopic neobladder. Each procedure demands considerable surgical expertise, precision, advanced anaesthesia support and comprehensive post-operative care.

The achievement also reflects the efficient utilisation of specialised operation theatre facilities at PGIMER, a major public healthcare institution catering to a large number of patients with complex medical conditions. Completing three such procedures within a limited timeframe required meticulous planning, seamless coordination and sustained efforts by the entire medical team.

Prof. Kumar acknowledged the contribution of PGIMER Director Prof. Vivek Lal, Shri Pankaj Rai, Medical Superintendent Prof. Ashok Kumar, the anaesthesia team led by Dr. Shyam Charan, MCh Urology residents, operation theatre nursing staff and other healthcare personnel. Their collective support and institutional coordination played a vital role in accomplishing the task.

This achievement adds to Prof. Kumar's reported surgical milestones, including four robot-assisted radical prostatectomies performed in a single day in January 2026 using one Da Vinci robotic system, and three consecutive living-donor kidney transplants completed within approximately nine hours at AIIMS Bathinda.

The latest accomplishment reinforces PGIMER's commitment to advancing specialised urological cancer care through surgical expertise, institutional support and multidisciplinary teamwork, while highlighting the growing capabilities of public healthcare institutions in delivering complex surgical intervention.