From France to India: World’s first transcontinental bariatric robotic procedure
- owenhaskins
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 29
Dr Mohit Bhandari, President of IRCAD India, and Founder & Director of Mohak Bariatric & Robotic Surgery Centre, Indore, India, has successfully completed the world’s first transcontinental bariatric robotic telesurgery - from Strasbourg, France to Indore, India, spanning over 8,500 kilometres.
Utilising SS Innovations International’s advanced SSi Mantra 3 surgical robotic system, the live robotic surgery was conducted from IRCAD, Strasbourg, during the Society of Robotic Surgery (SRS) Annual Meeting. Dr Bhandari performed a gastric bypass on a on an insulin-dependent diabetic patient who had a BMI of 50, was suffering from sleep apnoea, coronary artery disease. The operation was completed in 48 minutes.
The SSi Mantra surgical robotic system is a user-friendly, modular, multi-arm system with many advanced technology features, including: 3 to 5 modular robotic arms, an open-faced ergonomic surgeon command centre, a large 3D 4K monitor, a touch panel monitor for all patient related information display a virtual real-time image of the robotic patient side arm carts, and the ability for superimposition of 3D models of diagnostic imaging. A vision cart provides the table-side team with the same magnified 3D 4K view as the surgeon to provide better safety and efficiency. The SSi Mantra utilizes over 40 different types of robotic endo-surgical instruments to support different specialties, including cardiac surgery.
“I would like to extend my gratitude to Dr Vipul Patel, Chairman of the Society of Robotic Surgery for this opportunity at the SRS 2025 Conference, Dr Mohit Bhandari, the IRCAD India team, and the entire SS Innovations team whose dedication and innovation made the world’s first intercontinental robotic bariatric telesurgery possible,” said Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of SS Innovations International, Dr Sudhir Srivastava. “This historic achievement not only demonstrates the advanced capabilities of our SSi Mantra 3 surgical robotic system but also further paves the way for redefining and democratising global delivery of complex bariatric care, especially in regions with limited access to surgical expertise.”
This world first comes only weeks after Dr Bhandari successful completed the world’s first bariatric robotic telesurgery procedures involved two one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) surgeries and bridged a distance of 560 miles between SS Innovations' headquarters in Gurugram, India and the Mohak Bariatric & Robotic Surgery Centre in Indore, India.