ICG-Guided Sentinel Lymph Node Dissection: Sparing a Full Pelvic Clearance

A basic surgical background is required. Admission into a robotic training course in India requires an MS in Obstetrics & Gynaecology or MS in General Surgery, with at minimum some exposure to procedures such as LSCS, so the surgeon understands the underlying operative anatomy and principles. Without that foundation, the transition is very difficult. Requirements vary by country, and it would be worth checking what pathways exist locally.

It is definitely possible to train in robotics directly, and many surgeons find it easier to learn than laparoscopic surgery, especially if they are already comfortable with open surgery. India has a three-step pathway supported by Intuitive: Level 1 is simulation-based certification, Level 2 requires 30 to 50 procedures completed independently or under supervision, and Level 3 is advanced training. There is no requirement to learn laparoscopy first, though prior exposure helps. Most surgeons gain confidence within a year of focused training, with a trained bedside assistant supporting the docking and undocking process.

Yes. BLK-Max takes two robotic fellows every year, one in surgical oncology and one specifically in gynaecologic oncology, each for a one-year fellowship in minimally invasive robotic surgical oncology. The full application procedure and selection criteria would be shared afterward through the Jivo Healthcare team.

Cost depends on the exact procedure. For endometriosis surgery, whether it involves removing the uterus or only a cystectomy changes the figure, but in Indian currency the cost is typically 4 to 5 lakhs, roughly 4,000 to 5,000 US dollars.

It is a fluorescence-guided technique using indocyanine green, or ICG, that targets only the sentinel lymph node during robotic hysterectomy for endometrial carcinoma, relying on the robotic system's fluorescence imaging to identify that node reliably.

Full pelvic lymph node dissection carries a real cost in lymphoedema, nerve injury and general operative morbidity. When the sentinel node is clearly identified and negative, sentinel lymph node dissection achieves equivalent staging accuracy with substantially less of that morbidity.

The patient population is frequently obese and carries hypertension, diabetes or corpus cancer syndrome, all of which make open or laparoscopic surgery more challenging and more likely to produce complications.