PGI Chandigarh performs three complex bladder cancer surgeries in eight hours

In a surgical milestone, the Department of Urology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, performed three radical cystectomies with pelvic lymph node dissection and urinary diversion within eight hours in a single operation theatre. Prof (Dr) Santosh Kumar, Professor and Head of Unit-II, Department of Urology, PGIMER, led the procedures between 8 am and 4 pm on the same day.

According to information provided by Prof Kumar, none of the three patients required a blood transfusion, and all were discharged in good condition. The procedures involved removal of the urinary bladder, clearance of relevant pelvic lymph nodes and creation of an alternative route for urine discharge. Radical cystectomy is a complex surgical procedure commonly performed in selected patients with muscle-invasive or high-risk bladder cancer.

Prof Kumar described the achievement as a potential global first and world-record milestone in bladder cancer surgery. However, independent verification of the world-record claim was not provided in the press note.

The reported outcome was attributed to meticulous surgical techniques, blood-loss control using the Santosh PGI technique, coordinated anaesthesia management and comprehensive postoperative care.

The procedures required close coordination among the surgical, anaesthesia and nursing teams, along with operating theatre and postoperative care staff. The press note highlighted the role of institutional infrastructure and administrative support in completing the three operations within the specified period.

The team acknowledged the support of PGIMER Director Prof Vivek Lal, Deputy Director Administration Pankaj Rai, Medical Superintendent Prof Ashok Kumar and anaesthesia specialist Dr Shatam Charan, along with resident doctors and nursing staff.

The latest achievement adds to earlier surgical milestones associated with Prof Kumar. In January 2026, his team reportedly performed four robotic-assisted radical prostatectomies for prostate cancer in a single day using one da Vinci robotic system at PGIMER Chandigarh.

He had also reportedly led a team that completed three consecutive live-donor kidney transplants within approximately nine hours at AIIMS Bathinda.

The latest procedures further highlight the role of specialised surgical teams and coordinated healthcare infrastructure in delivering complex urological treatment at public-sector medical institutions.